Turkey says no vaccine needed to visit

unfortunately their infection rate, having just shot through the roof, isn't playing ball

Nope. Not going to unvaccinated Erdoganville.

From a travel FB group of mine, from an American incountry...They have just announced a lockdown starting Thursday. Essential works can work, a walk around the block, grocery and pharma y shopping only. People under 18 and over 65 not really allowed out. However, tourists don't need to follow these rules. I know this has been happening for some time, but really? Why encourage tourism in that kind of environment?

Well said, UFAK! This Pandemic is not over and I’m afraid this summer’s activities will slow down worldwide recovery.

Thank you Frank II.

Here is the lockdown information: https://tr.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information-2/ Yup, pretty restrictive and doesn't sound like a fun trip to me. Apparently up for review on 17 May. Anyone interested in visiting Turkey might want to revisit the sites after that date.

And the numbers from the Turkish state: https://covid19.saglik.gov.tr/ In keeping with my oath not to start playing the numbers game, I only suggest that if anyone really cares, then compare them to the rest of Europe.

For those that are interested in visiting Turkey, do know that you can get the PCR test at the airport in about 2 hours for about $35. Also good for people transiting in Istanbul on their way to countries with PCR test requirements and for your PCR test before returning to the US.

: occurring over a wide geographic area (such as multiple countries or continents) and typically affecting a significant proportion of the population

And no the Pandemic is not over. There are 7.7 billion people in the world; but again, to stay out of the number game, you do the math. But I suspect the pandemic will be alive an kicking when I am dead and gone.

When I report information, I'm not suggesting people follow the information. All I am doing is offering data and letting the readers decide for themselves what to do.

In the case of Turkey, locking down the country except for tourists doesn't seem like somewhere I would want to go.

Frank II you did good. Its a matter of putting information out there so people can do with it what they want.

And the US Government totally pissed off the Turkish government and a sizable number of Turkish citizens; so might not be a good time, even if things were open.

You're offering info for others to decide and yet you left out the very small (salient!) detail that the country will be in lockdown in the foreseeable future? Even if tourists are exempt, isn't that something worthwhile for them to consider? This is missing the forest for the trees.

No, Agnes, I did not. When the article appeared, there was no lockdown. Subsequent posters reported on the lockdown.

Do you go to the newspapers in your area and ask them to reprint yesterdays edition when there are updates to information? No, it gets reported in subsequent editions just like it was in this thread.

Nothing prevents you from editing or deleting the thread now that there are important changes someone may want to consider. I don't care for travel industry articles - better to use official sources.

https://tr.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information-2/
On April 26, 2021, the Government of Turkey (GoT) announced additional restrictions and closures to stop the spread of COVID-19, including a full-time curfew throughout ALL of Turkey, starting at 19:00 on Thursday, April 29, 2021, and ending at 05:00 on Monday, May 17, 2021, encompassing weekdays and weekends.

Most people who come back to a thread only read the new postings. They don't reread everything.

If you don't like what I post, don't read it. The sources I quote are legitimate.

But the real issue is you don't like anything posted that may be positive towards travel. You have proven that in your posts.

Agnes, we dont often agree, but you always mean good and when its factual I respect that hard work you put in getting the facts straight. Better than most and often better than me. But no post here is the final answer on anything. I think we all know any post is only a starting point. I guess we could repeat that and a few other things with every post, but the fact should be self evident; read the post, and do some research. I guess I am naïve in thinking people wont hop on the next plane without doing some research. Besides, anything posted that relates to COVID is so fluid, every post is dated in hours. So lets pull down the negative posts that for things that have now turned positive? The best anyone can do is put up what they find when they find it and trust people are bright enough to verify and make plans accordingly. Emma posted the lockdown pretty quickly adding context to Frank II's post. Tomorrow maybe someone else will add more context. For me it was sort of interesting because the last time I checked Turkey no vaccine was required, apparently in the ensuing month or so a vaccine did become a requirement, now not. There is a great lesson in that; and a lesson shared. Good post Frank II.

Thanks James, those are fair points.

Agnes, thanks buddy .....

But you know me by now. I cant just let it stop at that. But you brought up a point, sort of indirectly. As you know, I have pushed the limits of my personal safety a bit. My having done as well as I have is as antidotal as the person on the other thread who pointed out a relative who contracted COVID after having received the first dose of the vaccine. Neither are more than a blip on the chart. My 92 year old ex-mother-in-law, G-d love her, spent three days in the hospital with COVID, then went home. And that was in Central America. Again, a blip; a happy blip, but still just a blip.

No one should take my actions as an example of reasonable thinking (go ahead folks, pile on. I wrote that for you) ................ but mainly because they don't know all the factors that shaped my thinking and my behavior ... the primary driving force in my life being somewhat profound and self fulfilling.

What is right for me, probably will not be right for others and I don't encourage my lifestyle of anyone. Sometimes, most times, I haven't made that clear. So now I have.

While I am at it. Before I got vaccinated I wore the mask out of fear; the fear of infecting someone else. Now that I am vaccinated, I wear the mask (inside) out of consideration of those that will be uncomfortable if I do not. Small thing to do for ones fellow man.

I try and avoid the numbers these days. I did make the mistake of posting two websites that discus the odds of the numbers ....... but without my commentary, and it still blew up in my face. But its hard to keep totally out of blips being depicted as cause for action. Good or Bad.

G-d Bless you Agnes and keep you safe.