Turkey to start face-to-face education this year, says health minister

Turkey will start face-to-face education as scheduled, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said on Wednesday, and unvaccinated adults will have to be tested regularly against Covid-19.

"It is not possible for us to compromise face-to-face education ... We will take necessary measures to protect students and their families," Koca said in a speech following the coronavirus science council meeting.

Vaccination is a duty that cannot be left up to choice anymore, Koca said, adding that the teachers, instructors, and families of the students should be vaccinated.

"Vaccine should be a must for business and education to continue, the people who are not vaccinated should present negative PCR test results regularly," Koca said.

Daily cases have surged from a low of just over 4,000 in early July to over 20,000 for the last two weeks, since authorities relaxed pandemic-related restrictions.

As of Wednesday, half of Turkish adults have received at least two doses of Covid-19 vaccine, Koca said on Twitter. Turkey has given nearly 6 million third doses to health workers and people over 50 years old.

Turkey plans to open schools in September. 

(Reuters)