Istanbul Airport inaugurated its first Covid-19 test centre for international passengers. Samples would be examined in the laboratories at the terminal, and the results will be delivered within two hours for 110 Turkish lira (R273,54), according to the airport, Xinhua news agency reported on Wednesday.
It said the centre, which was established at two separate points at the terminal, has a capacity of carrying out 40 000 tests per day for both incoming and outgoing passengers.
"We have a total of 50 sampling cabins in both spots," it added, noting the results could also be sent via email in Turkish and English.
Turkish airline companies partially resumed their domestic operations on June 1 and international flights on June 11, after suspension over two months due to the pandemic.
According to the Turkish Transport and Infrastructure Ministry, more than one million passengers have been carried on both domestic and international flights in the first two weeks of June.
Istanbul Airport said that all the measures taken at the terminal aimed for a healthy and safe travel experience.
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The airport served 64 million passengers last year after it began operation in April 2019. Meanwhile, Turkey is not taking the Covid-19 pandemic lightly. The country is imposing strict fines for those caught not wearing their mask.
According to The Sun, locals and tourists face a fine of up to 900 lira if they do not wear a mask in public, whether they are at shops, restaurants or out and about.
Turkey imposed the rule in 81 provinces, including Istanbul, Ankara and Muğla to curb the spread of coronavirus in the country. If locals or travellers fail to adhere to the country’s first warning, the second will result in the fine.