Covid 19 Information

ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN BY VISITORS FOR AFFECTED COUNTRIES

Possible visitors should follow the instructions below:

» Passengers should avoid contact with sick people (keep a distance of at least 1 m).

» Travelers should minimize contact with other patients if it is necessary to visit healthcare facilities.

» Travelers should follow food safety recommendations (avoid consuming raw milk and animal products, wash vegetables and fruits thoroughly before eating them raw).

» Passengers should avoid contact with animals and pets (alive or dead).

» Travelers should observe hand hygiene and clean their hands frequently. Hands should be washed thoroughly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, alcohol-based hand antiseptics should be used. Soaps containing antiseptic are not necessary; regular soap will suffice.

» Passengers should cover up their noses and mouths with a disposable tissue paper when coughing or sneezing, or by bending their elbows when there is no tissue paper, to minimize disease transmission.

» Especially if there are symptoms of respiratory tract infection (fever, runny nose, nasal congestion, sneezing, coughing, sore throat), the above instructions should be followed, hands should be washed frequently, and crowded places should be avoided unless necessary. If necessary, the mouth and nose should be covered and, if possible, a medical mask should be worn. People who do not have the disease should not necessarily wear masks. Travelers are required to apply to a health institution and report their travel history in case of fever, cough, respiratory distress within 14 days following their travel.

COVID-19 CASE MANAGEMENT ON AIRCRAFT

In our country, international flights have been completely stopped and a limited flight schedule is being implemented. The General Directorate of Border and Coastal Health Services informs all passengers who come to our country by air, how they will benefit from the health services in our country if they develop symptoms.

Persons detected on the plane or at the airport and matching the definition of a possible case are managed according to the algorithm below. 

IF PATIENTS WITH SYMPTOMS ARE DETECTED ON THE FLIGHT

• The situation is reported to the tower by the pilot.
• The incident is reported to the airport health control center/airport operation center by the tower.
• Passenger contact information card is filled in for all passengers.
• Two front, two back and two side seat passenger information is received.
• The Health Monitoring Center evaluates the case on the plane.
• Provides information to the Health Inspection Center, Provincial Health Directorate and 112 Command and Control Centers.
• Procedures for infectious diseases recommended by the National/International Civil Aviation authorities and organizations are implemented.
• After evaluating the case, the Health Inspection Center delivers it to the 112 Emergency Health Services team.
• The case is transferred to hospitals with multidisciplinary conditions by 112 Emergency Health Services ambulances.
• The patient is managed here according to the Probable Case Tracking Algorithm. PATIENT WITH SYMPTOMS (Detected at the Airport) If detected at the airport, a thermal camera system will be installed at the earliest possible points in the International arrivals terminal (at least two personnel with trained medical masks, non-sterile gloves and goggles must be present in the thermal camera).

1. Persons whose fever is detected in the thermal camera; or 
2. Aircraft waiting, resting, etc. in the airport. persons with fever and/or respiratory symptoms in the area; medical masks are provided.

1 – In cases that meet the definition of probable situation;

• The person is taken to the Health Inspection Center.
• The person is evaluated by the personnel of the Health Inspection Center.
• Persons matching the definition of possible case are reported to the Provincial Health Directorate and 112 Command and Control Centers and referred to the hospital through 112 Emergency Health Services.
• Transfer of 112 Emergency Health Services to hospitals suitable for multidisciplinary conditions.
• Two front, two back and two side seat passenger information is obtained by contacting the airline from which the person came, and forwarded to the Provincial Health Directorate for contact tracing.
• It is managed according to the Case Tracking Algorithm.
• The sample result is reported to the Health Control Center by the Infectious Diseases Unit of the Provincial Health Directorate.
• Information about the possible case is reported to the Provincial Health Directorate on a daily basis.

2 – In cases that do not comply with the definition of probable situation;

• If the transit passenger is informed, his flight is allowed.
• The records of people other than transit passengers are kept and general information is given and they are allowed to enter the country.