After the Scientific Committee meeting, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca issued warnings about the coronavirus. He announced that, across Turkey, 922 new COVID-19 cases were diagnosed in the past 24 hours. In the same period, 17 people died, bringing the total confirmed cases to 173,036. Since the start of the outbreak, the total number of deaths is 4,746. The number of people who recovered in the last 24 hours is 2,241, bringing the overall total recovered to 146,839.
Health Minister Fahrettin Koca Warns: Mask, Distance, and Hygiene Are Crucial
Following the Scientific Committee meeting, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca detailed the precautions and measures needed during the normalization process. He emphasized that mask use, physical distancing, and hand hygiene remain essential as the country eases restrictions.
The minister stated that the government has provided the necessary measures to protect those who have been on the front lines of the pandemic. Many nationwide restrictions imposed to control the virus have been lifted to a large extent with the expectation that individual precautions will take their place. Citizens aged 65 and over are now permitted to go outside every day from 10:00 to 20:00. However, lifting most restrictions for the 65+ age group does not mean the danger has vanished.
Currently, 15.7% of COVID-19 cases were initially observed in the 65+ age group. After the curfew measures, that share dropped to 7.5%, representing roughly a 50% reduction in the rate of infection among that group. While the measures have been effective and have reduced pressure on the healthcare system, the decline does not mean the risk has ended. Even a decreased rate still indicates ongoing risk.
We have moved from a passive response to the pandemic toward an active approach consistent with the principles of controlled social life. In this active phase, we have two primary protective tools: masks and physical distance. Yet these two measures alone are not sufficient. Hand hygiene is at least as important as mask use and distancing. It is vital to remember that there is still no approved vaccine or definitive drug treatment for COVID-19. Thousands of citizens have lost their lives due to the pandemic, which underscores that following precautions is now a duty to the state and the nation. Vigilance and adherence to recommended measures are how we will continue to see cases decline.