Turkey's coronavirus deaths up to 214, with 13,531 total cases: Minister

ANKARA

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The death toll in Turkey from the new coronavirus rose to 214 after 46 more people died of the disease in the past 24 hours, the Health Ministry announced on March 31.

The total number of confirmed cases surged to 13,531, as another 2,704 people tested positive for the virus, according to the ministry data.

A total of 243 patients have recovered and been discharged from hospitals since the beginning of the outbreak, according to the data, which said 847 patients are being treated under intensive care.

Also, 15,422 tests were conducted in the past 24 hours and the total number of tests carried out so far rose to 92,403.

Turkey increasing support for citizens against COVID-19

Meanwhile, Turkey began taking precautions against the novel coronavirus even before the outbreak and is taking new measures with each passing day, Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu said late on March 31.

Speaking on the Ülke TV channel, Soylu said that since the very first days of the outbreak, Turkey started building border hospitals and set up thermal cameras at all its airports.

Despite the virus, Turkish security forces are working around the clock, and the country's fight against terrorism continues.

"With the help of our imams, police officers, gendarmerie, teachers and all sorts of civil servants, we visited the homes of 725,000 elderly people and met whatever needs they had," he added.

Soylu also said that false information on social media will not go unpunished.

"We have detected 2,863 social media accounts spreading false information about the COVID-19 outbreak in our country. Some of these are also related to the FETÖ and DHKP-C terrorist organizations.

"Intercity travel in Turkey is down by 98.9%, which shows our precautions have worked. We have also quarantined 50 towns and villages in 21 cities [across the country]. We are trying to take extreme measures before it's too late."

He added that operations have been carried out against 243 firms that overcharged for masks and protective clothing and there will be no tolerance.

Soylu also called on the Turkish people to stay home.