Pre-Pandemic: Turkey

This is the Anatolian Houses Hotel (Cevizler Sk, 50180 Göreme Belediyesi/Nevşehir Merkez/Nevşehir Merkez/Nevşehir, Turkey). The rooms were carved into the limestone cliffs with stone rooms as additions. This stone living room was connected via arched doorways into a bedroom that was carved into the cliff. The bathroom, also deep inside the cliff was a few steps up from the bedroom and had a large tub and plenty of pockets in the limestone walls to store towels and toiletries. Tiny windows carved in the walls overlooked the village below.

Another bathroom had deep holes in the floor covered in glass that fell away into the depths of the rock. The arched doorways between rooms had a definite disadvantage in that they were carved by someone who is less than 5 feet tall. I banged my head really hard one time as I was rushing to get out for a day of frantic sight seeing.

COVID-19 was confirmed to have reached Turkey on 11 March 2020, after a man who had returned to Turkey from Europe, tested positive. Turkey also surpassed China in confirmed total cases on 20 April 2020. As of June 29, 2020 Turkey had 5,115 deaths from COVID-19. ON April 11, 2020 the country had it’s highest single day of new cases with 5,138 cases in one day. The Government of Turkey announced that weekend curfews are in effect for all 81 provinces. The wearing of masks is required. A fine of 900 Turkish Lira will be imposed on those who do not comply. On 2 June, the Turkish Parliament resumed full activities for the first time in 48 days since a hiatus was declared due to the pandemic.

The Parliament started working under “new norms” including enhanced hygiene measures, use of masks and social distancing. Turkish parliament accepted a bill which could enable the release of up to 100,000 prisoners, including people responsible for deaths. However, the law excludes Turkey’s around 50,000 political prisoners, including journalists and human rights defenders, who are said to remain jailed despite overcrowding and unsanitary living conditions already posing severe health threat.

When will it be safe to fly? A health expert was saying that this is not the best time to be planning a vacation. With COVID-19 spreading around the world it is unlikely a safe location can be found for a get away. The situation is constantly changing. Because travel increases your chances of getting infected and spreading COVID-19, staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others from getting sick.

My sister decided she had to get out of Florida with the COVID-19 case numbers sky rocketing. She decided she would stay with her son in Kentucky where case numbers are much lower for the next several months. She got up a 3:30am to get on a 6am flight. She described the flight as “Awful”. The airport was almost empty except for the flight she took. The pane was packed and behind her were two kids screamed the whole flight. She wore a mask and eye coverings. She also wore medical gloves but they were too hot and she had to take them off half way through the flight. Every passenger was given a mask and some sanitizer when they boarded but few wore the masks. After landing she is quarantining for two weeks.

Air travel requires spending time in security lines and airport terminals, which can bring you in close contact with other people and frequently touched surfaces. Social distancing is difficult on crowded flights, and you may have to sit near others (within 6 feet), sometimes for hours. This may increase your risk for exposure to the virus that causes COVID-19.

You should ask yourself, is COVID-19 where you plan to travel? If so then you might get the infection after you get there. Would your health insurance cover you if you had to be hospitalized in another country? Is CODID-19 spreading in your community? Even if you think you do not have the virus, you could be asymptomatic and spread the virus where you are going.

Will you have to be within six feet of other when you are traveling by plane? Being within six feet of others increases you chances of getting the virus. Think about friends and family, the ones you love before you expose yourself for a planned vacation. Some state require you to quarantine after traveling. If you get sick, keep in mind how long you might have to be away from work or school. Anyone infected must no longer be infectious before they can leave home.

Should you have to travel, then keep these things in mind:

Clean your hands often.
- Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after you have been in a public place, after touching surfaces frequently touched by others, after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing, and before touching your face or eating.
- If soap and water are not available, bring and use hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub your hands together until they feel dry.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.
Avoid close contact with others.
- Keep 6 feet of physical distance from others.
Wear a cloth face covering in public.
Cover coughs and sneezes.
Pick up food at drive-throughs, curbside restaurant service, or stores.