Infections rise as Turkey resumes publishing all positive virus cases

ANKARA

The number of daily reported COVID-19 infections in Turkey jumped to above 28,000 on Nov. 25 after, in a surprise development, the government resumed publishing all positive cases and not just the number of patients being treated for symptoms of the coronavirus.

Following a meeting of the Coronavirus Scientific Advisory Board on Nov. 25, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said the number of asymptomatic cases would continue to be released.

“Most of the patients we lost are those who did not start their treatment in the early stage and did not take their medication,” he said, urging people to be wary of flu and cold symptoms and to take medicines on time.

Koca said the country’s daily test capacity will reach more than 200,000 in the coming days.

He underlined that the situation got worse in the country as of the second week of October.

If people do not follow the measures resolutely, heavy restrictions would be inevitable, he added.

Turkey imposed a partial weekend curfew from 8 p.m. to 10 a.m. local time.

The minister said the Coronavirus Scientific Advisory Board would review the results and efficacy of the curfew and would decide in 10 days whether to continue with it or not.

Koca stressed the country carried out widespread filiation work, rapid detection of cases, early treatment and the free-of-charge medicine supply to patients isolated at home.

“There has been a rapid rise in coronavirus cases in the western part of the country. Istanbul, Bursa, Kocaeli, and İzmir are seeing a peak in infections again,” said Koca.

Some 70 percent of intensive care units in Istanbul are now occupied, with the figure at 75.4 percent in the capital Ankara, he added.

The minister said all institutions and medical facilities in Turkey are making all possible efforts to manage the increasing caseload.

Over the next four days authorities will intensify inspections in crowded places to check if anti-virus measures are observed, the Interior Ministry said in a circular sent to all 81 provinces of the country on Nov. 25.

Those efforts will be coordinated by governors and district governors and inspections will focus particularly on marketplaces, shopping centers and public transport.

The inspections will be carried out from Nov. 26 to Nov. 29 in all of the country’s provinces and districts. Authorities will check if the public is adhering to face mask, social distancing and hygiene rules.