Turkey eases curbs for double-jabbed COVID-19 contacts

By Aybuke Inal Kamaci

ANKARA (AA) – People who have had at least two doses of a vaccine or recovered from COVID-19 in the past six months will no longer be considered at risk if they come into contact with an infected person, Turkey’s Health Ministry announced on Tuesday.

The HES codes – Turkey’s coronavirus contact tracing system – of people who come into contact with an infected person will remain “riskless,” but their interaction with a COVID-19 patient will be logged, the ministry said.

This will allow them to continue their daily lives with regular safety measures, including wearing masks and following social distancing and hygiene guidelines.

However, if they develop any symptoms, they must go for a PCR test on the same day.

If they remain asymptomatic, a test will be required on the fifth day after their contact with a virus patient.

If the person does not report for a test on the fifth day, their HES code will be changed to “risky” the next day and they will be required to self-isolate.

If they test positive, the individual must follow the Health Ministry’s existing isolation guidelines and their condition will be monitored.

If the PCR test result is negative, the information will be logged into the HES system and their status will remain “riskless.”

However, according to the Health Ministry’s updated guidelines, these individuals must keep monitoring for any symptoms until the 14th day of their contact with a COVID-19 patient.

They will also have to stay away from people in high-risk groups, including the elderly and people with weak immune systems, until the end of the 14th day.

If the Beta, Gamma, or Delta variants of the virus are detected, the isolation period for the individuals will be 14 days, the ministry said.

Their quarantine will end after two weeks without a PCR test, but they will not have the option of getting a test earlier to cut short their isolation period, the ministry clarified.

* Writing by Jeyhun Aliyev​​​​​​​