COVID-19 Travel Guide

 

How to Travel in the COVID Era

Personal experience of traveling to Istanbul and travel instructions during the COVID-19 pandemic. What questionnaires to fill out and how to take a coronavirus test upon arrival from Turkey. In September 2020, we made a test trip to Istanbul from Moscow. We will tell you how it was and what needs to be done for the trip.

Tickets

Most flights have been canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. This affected the price of tickets: now they are one and a half to two times more expensive than before the spread of the virus. From regular direct flights from Moscow to Istanbul now fly: Aeroflot, Turkish Airlines and Pobeda, as well as working mainly with travel agencies: Pegasus, Hahn Air and Nord Wind. We enjoyed flying with Turkish Airlines last time, but the tickets were too expensive for our dates. We chose Aeroflot.

Security measures related to the coronavirus pandemic

Now is the time that at any moment something can go wrong. Most low-cost tickets are non-refundable, which is why it is especially important now to buy insurance with cancellation protection, and of course, COVID-19 treatment coverage. We took Tinkoff Insurance, which declare that their coronavirus treatment is included in their medical expenses. Also, find out in advance how the selected airline did with tickets for flights canceled due to quarantine this year.

Aeroflot, at the request of Rospotrebnadzor, has reduced the choice of special meals on board to Kosher and Halal. It touched us directly, as we always order vegetarian meals. Aeroflot's support service could not answer what to do in such a situation. On board we were given a standard meal in which we could only eat bread and side dishes.

In the plane and at the airport, it is necessary to wear masks and gloves; when boarding the plane, the temperature is measured. Our requirements are poorly observed, almost no one wears gloves. Everybody had masks on the plane, some were told if they were not wearing a mask. After 3 hours of flight, they ask to change the mask. Flight attendants can issue a mask if you don't have your own. We advise you to take your sanitary officer on the road, there was only a wet napkin with lunch on the plane. In Istanbul, the measures are monitored stricter. Masks are worn by almost everyone and everywhere, including on the street.

Registration of those arriving from abroad on public services

All those arriving from abroad must register with Rospotrebnadzor, and do this BEFORE registering for the RETURN flight. You can register in advance, we filled out the form in Moscow before the trip. For the questionnaire, you will need a photograph, we just made it on a mobile. A card issued by the system with a QR code must be saved or printed. She may be asked at passport control, although we were not asked.

Form upon arrival in Turkey

On the plane, we were given small questionnaires that we need to fill out to cross the border with Turkey. The questionnaire asks for personal information, address of residence in Turkey, telephone numbers for communication, and the presence of symptoms of COVID-19. At the border control, this questionnaire is taken away, a regular stamp is put on the passport.

Application form upon return to Russia

After passing through passport control in Russia at Sheremetyevo airport, we were met by women in white coats, who asked to fill out another form. A crowd was created, there weren't enough pens and tables for everyone. We advise you to take your own pen. Then the next flight arrived and the crowd swelled. The questionnaire as a whole repeats the one on public services. Why the questionnaire was not issued on the plane as in front of Turkey is a mystery.

How to take a coronavirus test upon arrival in Russia

The PCR test for coronavirus (this is important) must be passed and the result uploaded to public services within 72 hours from the moment of entry into Russia, otherwise a fine will be imposed. Theoretically, it is possible to do this for free in the district clinic, but we assessed the risks of not being able to do it as high. At the Sheremetyevo airport, a paid service is now provided for the delivery of analysis for COVID-19, we decided to use it. Also, acquaintances said that they managed to pass a paid test at the MEDSI clinic in Moscow.

How to take a COVID-19 test at Sheremetyevo D:

The medical office in Terminal D is located after the escalators to the baggage claim area. It has been marked with posters with information about COVID-19 testing.

• You need to register on the website of the medical company. That is, you need Internet access at the airport, or you should do it in advance;
• Fill out a short form on the website. You will need a passport. Passport or the Russian Federation - it is not specified anywhere, everyone does it differently. We decided the Russian Federation, since in the questionnaire on the state services they indicated the passport of the Russian Federation;
• Stand in line and sign an agreement. Our queue dragged on for two hours (!), As three flights arrived at once, and there were a lot of people willing. It takes about five to ten minutes for each person in the office. At the office, you will be given barcodes for analysis and a contract for the provision of honey. services;
• Immediately in the office you need to pay for the test, we only accept cashless payments (!);
• Two types of test are offered: express (result in 60 minutes) for 2750 rubles and regular (result in 24 hours) for 1700 rubles;
• Go to the medical center on the second floor, but not on the nearest elevators, but at the very left end of the building, if you stand facing the exit;
• Take a swab from the nose and throat;
• The result can be picked up in person, it also comes by email in Russian and English.

We chose a simple analysis, the result came the next evening (less than 24 hours).

Uploading the coronavirus test result to public services

The last step is to upload the test result for COVID-19 on the website gosuslugi.ru. To do this, you will need to fill out another questionnaire. The link to the questionnaire is on the card with the QR code, which was given during the registration of the arrivals. The questionnaire repeats the previously entered data and asks for the test result. Here you also need to upload the file with the results from the medical institution.

Further, you need to expect a response from Rospotrebnadzor about whether you should comply with quarantine. In theory, this depends on the results of your test, as well as the tests of other passengers. Be healthy!