Will there be a curfew during the Eid al-Adha holiday? Minister Koca answered. Health Minister Fahrettin Koca spoke after the Scientific Committee meeting. Regarding the question of whether there will be a curfew during the holiday, he said the issue was partially discussed at the meeting but no proposal was made. He added that a clearer decision will be reached in the coming weeks depending on the course of the outbreak. A nationwide curfew has not been put on the table; instead, some measures may be taken and restrictions could be applied at the provincial level.
Minister Koca continued by noting that the pandemic remains a global concern and that these are days when the country must strengthen its efforts. He said Turkey is in a relatively good position after a long struggle, but remaining idle would mean losses. Recalling a warning from the Director-General of the World Health Organization, he emphasized that no country is safe from the virus. He pointed out that many countries’ health systems are close to collapse and that social unrest has replaced calm in wealthier societies. He added that Turkey’s situation is favorable in many respects, but the pain of the initial loss on the night of March 11, 2020, still persists.
Health Minister Issues Mask Recommendation
The Health Minister advised on mask use, emphasizing that avoiding coronavirus entirely is not possible and that the virus spreads through the respiratory tract. He described masks as an internationally recognized and important protective measure, while also noting that masks alone are insufficient at close range. He stressed the importance of physical distancing as an indisputable precaution worldwide. The effectiveness of any nation’s response depends on adherence to measures, he said: countries where cases surged or control was lost either abandoned precautions or had insufficient measures from the start. Compliance with restrictions is not always easy, and face-to-face adherence can be particularly difficult.
The minister announced yesterday’s new case count as 1,053 and cautioned that, statistically, some of these patients will require intensive care and mechanical ventilation, and some may lose consciousness. He challenged the notion that all these cases are simply the result of individuals failing to follow precautions, asking listeners to reconsider such a simplistic conclusion.
Sending-Off Ceremonies Banned in 8 Provinces
He also said the state has put some measures into effect, including a ban on sending-off ceremonies for soldiers in certain provinces. Steps are being taken to reduce risks associated with religious officials’ duties, funeral services, condolences, memorials, and collective worship. Security forces continue to enforce measures in marketplaces where enforcement is needed. Preparations are underway to have observers at events such as weddings and engagements to protect public health.
Addressing healthcare workers, ministry staff, and the public, Minister Koca noted that, based on reports from public health boards and law enforcement, approximately 18,000 people across 81 provinces were fined in the past week for failing to comply with coronavirus measures. He said compliance should have occurred voluntarily without the need for penalties: even if mask-wearing had not been legally mandated, masks should have been used; even if distancing could not always be maintained, respect for distance should have been observed. Such sanctions continue, and provincial public health boards will keep taking the decisions they deem necessary.
Peak Reports
Minister Koca reported that Turkey saw its highest number of patients in the fifth week. He said Istanbul appears to have passed its peak and is showing a downward trend. Istanbul, İzmir, Kocaeli, Sakarya, and Eskişehir reached their peaks in the fifth week. In Anatolia, Trabzon peaked in the sixth week and Kayseri in the seventh. Other provinces reached peaks later: Hakkari and Kütahya in the 14th week; Batman, Şırnak, and Gaziantep in the 15th; Bursa, Konya, Mardin, and Van in the 16th; and Ankara, Diyarbakır, Şanlıurfa, and Afyonkarahisar in the 17th week.
In other words, the first wave continues in parts of Anatolia. While provinces that have passed their peak show more stable numbers, increases in some Eastern and Southeastern provinces mean that the national total may fall and then plateau, rather than decline uniformly.
When Will Schools Reopen?
On the question of when schools will reopen, Minister Koca was reminded that the Ministry of National Education has announced a reopening date. Asked about the feasibility of the Scientific Committee’s normalization guideline recommending one student per four square meters, he said the committee does not propose measures that cannot be implemented. After discussion among those responsible for applying the rules, the committee will aim to develop the most suitable solution for students. The announced date of August 31, 2020, was given as a tentative schedule for reopening; if the outbreak’s course changes before that date, the Scientific Committee may recommend online, remote, or hybrid measures as it has done previously. Any final decision would be made by the Council of Ministers.