TURKEY
/The following information has been collected and collated by convergence consulting in collaboration with our in-country Global Alliance Partner. Please let us know if you have additional questions by emailing us at COVID-19@cc-global.com.
1. Does your country’s health authority have guidelines or requirements for when COVID-19 cases are classified work-related and reported as a workplace illness?
If COVIV-19 is transmitted to a person while working, there is a link between the mode of transmission of the virus and the work environment of the person, then it is regarded as occupational illness.
2. Is there information on the timing of “return to work” and the process for a worker to return, i.e. examination by a physician, or a negative COVID test?
No information at this time.
3. Does your country’s health authority have COVID-19 mitigation guidelines for the public and/or for business? If so, please list them below and how long they will be in place.
April 10,.2020: Ministry of Internal Affairs. All citizens in 30 provinces with metropolitan status (including Istanbul) and Zonguldak will be banned to go out from 24:00 on April 4, 2020 to 24:00 on April 12, 2020. https://www.icisleri.gov.tr/2-gun-sokaga-cikma-yasagi
April 10,.2020: General Directorate of Occupational Health and Safety. “Documents containing Points to Consider for Employees in Call Centers within the Scope of Combating Coronavirus” have been published: https://www.ailevecalisma.gov.tr/isggm/haberler/cagri_merkezleri_covid-19_kapsaminda_dikkat_edilmesi_gerekli_hususlara_iliskin_dokuman_yayimlandi/
April 9,.2020: General Directorate of Occupational Health and Safety. “Documents prepared for Considerations in Wholesale and Retail Supermarkets, Cargo and Courier Transportation and Pharmacies within the Scope of Combating New Type Coronavirus” have been published. https://www.ailevecalisma.gov.tr/isggm/haberler/toptanveperakendemarketler_kargovekuryetasimaciligi_eczane_covid-19_kapsaminda_dikkat_edilmesi_gerekli_hususlara_iliskin_dokuman_yayimlandi/
April 5, 2020: Ministry of Internal Affairs. Exceptions for those aged between 18 and 20: Those who have a regular job in the private sector and those who can document such with a social security registration document will be exempted from the curfew. https://www.icisleri.gov.tr/sokaga-cikma-yasagi-bulunan-18---20-yas-arasindaki-genclerle-ilgili-istisnalar
April 3, 2020: Ministry of Internal Affairs. All entrances and exits to be made from provincial borders of 30 provinces with metropolitan status (including Istanbul) and Zonguldak by land, air and sea (public transport, private vehicle and pedestrian, etc.) will be stopped for a period of 15 days starting from 24:00 on Friday, 03 April 2020. In provinces and districts, citizens and employees will enter the marketplaces, supermarkets and workplaces (where they work collectively) with masks. Those who were born after January 1, 2000 in all provinces and districts will be temporarily banned from going out on the streets on April 3,.2020 from 24:00. https://www.icisleri.gov.tr/sehir-giriscikis-tebirleri-ve-yas-sinirlamasi
March 29, 2020: Ministry of Internal Affairs Circular on Commercial Taxis. https://www.icisleri.gov.tr/81-il-valiligine-koronavirus-tedbirleri-kapsaminda-ticari-taksilerle-ilgili-genelge
March 28, 2020: Ministry of Internal Affairs. Circular on flights and bus services (travel permit): https://www.icisleri.gov.tr/81-il-valiligine-koronavirus-tedbirleri-kapsaminda-ucakotobus-seferleri-genelgesi
March 28, 2020: General Directorate of Occupational Health and Safety. Guidelines on Measures to be Taken at Workplaces within the Scope of Combating New Type Coronavirus have been published: https://www.ailevecalisma.gov.tr/isggm/haberler/bakanligimizin-yeni-tip-koronavirusle-mucadele-kapsaminda-is-yerlerinde-alinacak-onlemlere-iliskin-kilavuzu-yayimlandi/
March 27, 2020: Ministry of Internal Affairs. The sale of non-essential products (such as clothing, toys, etc.) will not be allowed in marketplaces where citizens' basic food / cleaning materials are sold. At existing marketplaces, there will be a distance of at least 3 meters between each sales place (stall). https://www.icisleri.gov.tr/koronavirus-salgini-ile-mucadele-kapsaminda-pazar-satis-yerleri-ile-ilgili-ek-genelge
March 25, 2020: Ministry of Education. Schools will be closed until April 30th.
March 24, 2020: Ministry of Internal Affairs. All supermarkets will serve between 09:00 and 21:00 in the provinces / districts. The maximum number of customers in the supermarket will be one tenth of the total area (excluding warehouses, administrative offices, etc.) that serve the customer directly. For example, if the area of the supermarket offered to the customers is 100 square meters, there will be a maximum of 10 customers at the same time. https://www.icisleri.gov.tr/koronavirus-salgini-ile-mucadele-kapsaminda-marketlerle-ilgili-ek-genelge
March 21, 2020: Ministry of Internal Affairs. As of midnight, all restaurants, as well as pastry shops and patisseries and similar workplaces will only serve in the form of takeaway or delivery, without allowing customers to be served at the tables. https://www.icisleri.gov.tr/koronavirus-salgini-ile-mucadele-kapsaminda-lokantalarla-ilgili-ek-genelge
March 21, 2020: Ministry of Internal Affairs. After 24:00 on March 21, 2020, it is forbidden for our citizens aged 65 and over and those with chronic illnesses (low immune system and chronic lung disease, asthma, COPD, cardiovascular disease, kidney, hypertension and liver disease and citizens using drugs that disrupt the immune system) to go out of their residence, to walk around the open areas/parks and to travel by public transportation vehicles. https://www.icisleri.gov.tr/65-yas-ve-ustu-ile-kronik-rahatsizligi-olanlara-sokaga-cikma-yasagi-genelges
March 21, 2020: Ministry of Internal Affairs. The activities of barbers, hairdressers and beauty centers will be temporarily stopped as of March 21, Saturday (18:00). https://www.icisleri.gov.tr/bakanligimiz-81-il-valiligine-koronavirus-tedbirleri-konulu-ek-bir-genelge-daha-gonderdi
March 21, 2020: Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure. As of 17.00, flights to 46 countries will be stopped as part of the new type of COVID-19 measures. Thus, the number of countries that Turkey stop flights will increase to 68. (List is given in the link): https://www.uab.gov.tr/basin-aciklamalari/ucus-yasagi-olan-ulke-sayisi-68-e-yukseldi
March 20, 2020: General Directorate of Occupational Health and Safety. “Necessary Measures to be Taken for Effective Fight Against the New Coronary Virus (COVID-19) Outbreak” were published. https://www.ailevecalisma.gov.tr/isggm/haberler/koronavirus/
March 19, .2020: Greece and Bulgaria borders are closed.
March 16, 2020: Ministry of Internal Affairs. Activities of; theaters, cinemas, show centers, concert halls, engagement / wedding halls, casinos, pubs, taverns, coffee shops, cafés, cafeterias, hookah lounges, internet lounges, internet cafes, all kinds of game halls, all kinds of indoor playgrounds (including the ones in shopping malls and restaurants), clubhouses, amusement parks and recreational facilities will be temporarily suspended by 24:00 today. https://www.icisleri.gov.tr/81-il-valiligine-koronavirus-tedbirleri-konulu-ek-genelge-gonderildi
March 15, 2020: Ministry of Internal Affairs. Due to the coronavirus epidemic, the activities of discotheques, bars and night clubs will be temporarily stopped as of March 16 at 10:00. https://www.icisleri.gov.tr/81-il-valiligine-coronavirus-tedbirleri-konulu-ek-genelge-gonderdi
March 14, 2020: Ministry of Internal Affairs. As of March 15, 17:00 Turkey and Georgia will temporarily close the Sarp border gate to passenger traffic. https://www.icisleri.gov.tr/turkiye-ve-gurcistan-sarp-sinir-kapisini-karsilikli-olarak-gecici-sureyle-yolcu-trafigine-kapatacak
March 13, 2020: Ministry of Education. Schools will be closed between March 16 and 30.
March 13, 2020: Ministry of Internal Affairs. As of March 14, 08:00 passenger entries from; Germany, Spain, France, Austria, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Belgium and the Netherlands to Turkey was halted from all border crossings. Travel from Turkey to these countries was temporarily stopped. https://www.icisleri.gov.tr/81-il-valiligi-ve-hudut-idare-mulki-amirliklerine-genelge
March 1, .2020: Iraq border has been closed.
February 26, 2020: Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Travel Alert for Italy Travel Alert for Iraq http://www.mfa.gov.tr/italya-seyahat-uyarisi-hk-26-2-2020.tr.mfa
February 23, 2020: Iran border has been closed.
January 27, 2020: Ministry of Foreign Affairs Travel Alert for China. http://www.mfa.gov.tr/cin-seyahat-uyarisi-hk-27-1-20.tr.mfa
4. Which governmental authority issued these guidelines, and are they voluntary or mandatory?
These measures are from circulars issued by Ministry of Internal Affairs.
5. Do these mitigation measures have any consequence, such as, if a person does not abide by these measures must they pay a fine or go to jail?
Citizens who do not comply with the decisions taken will be subject to an administrative fine (3150 TL – 467 USD) according to article 282 of the Public Sanitation Law, and the necessary judicial proceedings will be initiated within the scope of article 195 of the Turkish Criminal Code regarding the behaviors that constitute the crime.
6. Has your country adopted any laws or regulations related to COVID-19?
No laws or regulations related to COVID-19 have been adopted at this time, but there are circulars issued by Presidency and related ministries.
The data presented here is not a complete analysis of all COVID-19 information; however, our in-country Partner will provide updates as and when considered appropriate and as relevant data becomes available. If you have any additional questions, or request for country information, please email us at COVID-19@cc-global.com with additional inquiries.
