Turkey plans to expand use of vaccine cards to curb COVID-19 pandemic
September 29, 2021, 12:04 am

Turkey plans to expand use of vaccine cards to curb COVID-19 pandemic

Covid-Turkey-wofkers cleans the street-Shutterstock

The Xinhua reported according to the Hurriyet daily, Turkey is considering expanding the use of COVID-19 vaccine cards to enter packed indoor venues in the upcoming period.

According to the report, proof of vaccination will be compulsory for restaurants, cafes, and shopping malls to curb the pandemic during the winter months, when citizens will spend most of their time indoor.

Mehmet Ceyhan, head of the Department of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases of the Ankara-based Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, told Xinhua that the main areas of concern should be workplaces, public vehicles, and some crowded events like wedding ceremonies where the contamination risk is significantly high.

He added, the government should also adopt alternate working hours for workers to reduce jamming in public transportation.

The Xinhua news agency mentioned that under the current regulation, Turks are required to present a negative COVID-19 test result or proof of vaccination for domestic travel and entry to cinemas, theaters, and concert halls.

Meanwhile, the vaccination rate of those who received double vaccine doses in the country of 83 million reached 53 percent on Tuesday.

Ceyhan noted that the vaccination rate of adults needs to be as much as 80 percent to achieve social immunity as Turkey does not vaccinate children below 12 years old.

He remarked that the 53 percent ratio only protects the individuals, and it does not contribute to the achievement of herd immunity.

Ceyhan said: "Furthermore, as the time delays, the effectiveness of the vaccines decreases. Therefore, health authorities should speed up the vaccination campaign as much as possible."

So far, more than 108 million vaccine doses have been administered across the country as part of the vaccination drive launched in January.

Source: xinhua

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has announced its sponsorship of the “Innovation and Sustainable Technology Solutions Competition (GU - IST Solutions), hosted by Gulf University at its main campus.
This strategic sponsorship reflects BENEFIT’s active role in advancing technological innovation and fostering sustainable solutions to future challenges. It also seeks to empower Bahraini youth by enhancing their skills, capabilities, and competitiveness in innovation and solution development—contributing meaningfully to the broader goals of sustainable development across all sectors.
As part of BENEFIT’s active involvement in the competition, the company has announced that Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager of Public Relations and Communication, will serve on the competition’s supervisory committee. Her upcoming participation reflects BENEFIT’s forward-looking commitment to championing academic and professional excellence.
Commenting on the occasion, Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager of Public Relations and Communication at BENEFIT, said, “We are privileged to support this pioneering initiative, which aligns seamlessly with BENEFIT’s enduring commitment to fostering innovation and nurturing the potential of Bahrain’s youth. Our participation is rooted in a deep sense of social responsibility and a firm belief in the pivotal role of innovation in shaping a sustainable future. Through such platforms, we seek to empower the next generation with the knowledge, skills, and foresight required to develop impactful solutions that address future challenges, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030.”
Dr. Aseel Al Ayash Dean of the College of Engineering in Gulf University commented, “We extend our sincere gratitude to BENEFIT for their generous sponsorship and support of the Innovation and Sustainable Technology Solutions Competition. This contribution plays an instrumental role in helping us achieve the strategic goals of this initiative, namely, cultivating a culture of innovation and sustainability, encouraging efforts that address the imperatives of sustainable development, and enhancing the practical and professional capabilities of our students and participants.”
The event will bring together a diverse spectrum of participants, including secondary school students, university undergraduates, engineers, industry professionals, entrepreneurs, academic researchers, and subject matter experts representing a wide range of disciplines.
The competition seeks to inspire participants to develop and present innovative, sustainable technologies aimed at addressing pressing environmental, social, and economic challenges. It encourages the formulation of business models that integrate advanced technological solutions with core principles of sustainability. Moreover, it serves as a platform for emerging leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators to contribute to the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals, promote the ethos of responsible technology, and demonstrate its transformative potential across various sectors.
Attendees will have the opportunity to view a series of project presentations submitted by participants, covering diverse areas such as eco-friendly product design, smart and sustainable innovations, renewable energy technologies, water conservation and management, waste minimisation and recycling, green architectural solutions, and sustainable transportation systems. Outstanding projects will be formally recognised and awarded at the conclusion of the event.