Health Ministry

As Turkey plans to start easing COVID-19-releated restrictions gradually in March, a spike in the number of virus cases in five provinces in the country's Black Sea region has caused deep concerns.

The provinces of Ordu, Giresun, Samsun, Trabzon and Rize stand out among all 81 provinces of the country in terms of the spread of the virus.

Ljubljana – Jože Golobič was named acting director general of the Ljubljana University Medical Centre (UKC) to succeed Janez Poklukar, who was appointed new health minister on Tuesday. Golobič has so far served as chairman of the UKC Ljubljana council.

Faced with the prospect of a "complete catastrophe in the hospitals," the Czech Republic has announced a significantly tighter lockdown in an attempt to bring Covid-19 cases under control.

A certificate of immunization against Covid-19 can be obtained after a second dose of the vaccine is administered, the Ministry of Health informs.

Turkey has started the vaccination of teachers ahead of the commencement of face-to-face education slated for March 1. Education Minister Ziya Selçuk received his first shot in a ceremony held in the Central Anatolia province of Çorum on Feb. 24.

Istanbul is ready to ease COVID-19-related restrictions starting on March1 and making preparations to that end in line with the government's plans to move to a normalization phase on a provincial-basis, the city's provincial health director has said.

Turkey will start to gradually normalize from coronavirus restrictions as of March 1, Turkey's health minister said on
Feb. 20. 

Underlining that they are working carefully on normalization steps, Fahrettin Koca said on Twitter that the process will start with provincial public health councils dealing with four risk levels in line with Health Ministry criteria.

Ljubljana – The Ljubljana University Medical Centre (UKC) has signed a deal with Majbert Pharm to supply rapid antigen tests at virtually the same cost apiece as the company supplied to the Health Ministry for mass coronavirus testing under a contract signed in December.

The National Union of Romanian Hauliers (UNTRR) is asking the Romanian authorities to introduce the "passenger location form" for the better monitoring of the activity of foreign transporters and drivers on the territory of Romania.

Turkey's Justice Ministry announced on Feb. 18 that COVID-19 vaccines have begun being administered to detainees and convicts at penal institutions.