Turkey Requires Negative PCR Tests for All Incoming Passengers

People wearing masks take photos in the historic Sultanahmet Square with Hagia Sophia in the background, Istanbul, Turkey, Dec. 21, 2020. (AP)
People wearing masks take photos in the historic Sultanahmet Square with Hagia Sophia in the background, Istanbul, Turkey, Dec. 21, 2020. (AP)
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Turkey Requires Negative PCR Tests for All Incoming Passengers

People wearing masks take photos in the historic Sultanahmet Square with Hagia Sophia in the background, Istanbul, Turkey, Dec. 21, 2020. (AP)
People wearing masks take photos in the historic Sultanahmet Square with Hagia Sophia in the background, Istanbul, Turkey, Dec. 21, 2020. (AP)

Turkey is enacting precautions for international travel, requiring a negative COVID-19 test for passengers to enter the country starting Monday until March.

Health Minister Fahrettin Koca tweeted a statement Friday saying travelers would need to present a negative result from a PCR test taken in a 72-hour window to board international flights en route to Turkey. Previously, tests weren't required for travel to Turkey.

The rule would apply to all land and sea arrivals starting Wednesday. Travelers would be quarantined at their destination if they don’t have test results.

Travelers arriving from the United Kingdom, Denmark and South Africa in the past 10 days would have to show a negative test result and go into mandatory quarantine for at least seven days until a second test.

Turkey has among the worst infection rates in the world, with a weekly average of more than 20,000 confirmed daily infections. The total death toll is 19,371, according to official statistics.



Switzerland, Britain to Withdraw Staff from Embassies in Iran

 Smoke rises following an Israeli attack on the IRIB building, the country's state broadcaster, in Tehran, Iran, June 16, 2025. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters
Smoke rises following an Israeli attack on the IRIB building, the country's state broadcaster, in Tehran, Iran, June 16, 2025. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters
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Switzerland, Britain to Withdraw Staff from Embassies in Iran

 Smoke rises following an Israeli attack on the IRIB building, the country's state broadcaster, in Tehran, Iran, June 16, 2025. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters
Smoke rises following an Israeli attack on the IRIB building, the country's state broadcaster, in Tehran, Iran, June 16, 2025. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters

Switzerland said it was closing the embassy in view of the “intensity of military operations” and the unstable situation on the ground.  

The government in Bern said Friday that all expatriate staff safely left Iran and will return to Tehran as soon as the situation allows. 

Since Tehran and Washington don’t have diplomatic relations, Switzerland has looked out for America’s interests in Iran since the 1979 US Embassy hostage crisis.  

In its statement Friday, the Swiss government said it will continue to act as an intermediary transmitting communications “as and when both parties consider appropriate.” 

Britain also said it was temporarily withdrawing UK staff from its embassy in Iran due to the ongoing security situation there.

"We have taken the precautionary measure to temporarily withdraw UK staff from Iran. Our embassy continues to operate remotely," Britain said on its travel advice website page for Iran.

Israel and Iran have been in conflict since last week after Israel launched military strikes on Iran, which retaliated with waves of missiles.

British foreign minister David Lammy has been urging the two sides to find a diplomatic solution and is in Geneva on Friday for nuclear talks with Iran and European counterparts.