Turkey‘s Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said on Oct. 22 the number of cases of coronavirus infection in Istanbul has made up 40% of the nationwide toll.
Koca said he discussed the course of the pandemic in the megacity Istanbul in a meeting with the provincial governor, police chief, deputy ministers, provincial health director, field coordinators and chief physicians and decided on the measures to be taken against the ongoing rise of infection cases.
“The number of cases [of coronavirus infection] in Istanbul has made up 40% of nationwide toll, reaching 5 times [of cases] in Ankara,” Koca said on Twitter.
He underlined that they increased the contact screening and the number of tests in the city.
“In the fight against the pandemic, we currently do not have a stronger weapon than the [protective] measures you will follow. The importance of the mask has increased. And we will face the toughest test against the crowd,” he added.
“The most important challenge for our health care professionals is to treat seriously ill patients and reduce their numbers. Our part is far easier.
Support the struggle [against the virus] by complying with the precautions, especially by wearing the mask,” he said on Twitter.
Wearing masks is compulsory in all public areas and outdoors in Turkey.
Hurriyet Daily News