Turkish social media users erupted in protest on Aug. 19 and 20 after President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced that two PCR tests would be mandatory in the upcoming term for school employees who hadn't been vaccinated.
A hashtag that read "Stop the PCR mandate" received more than 300,000 comments on Twitter after the president's announcement, with a majority of the content implying that the tests were some sort of conspiracy.
Turkish schools are expected to open in September, the president said, adding that any teachers and school employees who will come into contact with students will be required to take at least two PCR tests every week.
University students and faculty will also be required to take PCR tests, the president added, although he didn't specify further than "regularly" as to the frequency.
"We will also implement PCR mandates for attendance at public events like concerts, theater halls and movie theaters," Erdoğan said. "We will also require mandatory PCR tests for planes and intercity bus travel."
The president didn't specify whether vaccines would excuse attendees of public events or passengers of public transportation from the PCR mandate.