‘Turkey is losing control of the pandemic,’ warns Turkish Thoracic Society

* Photo: Anadolu Agency (AA) - Archive

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The Turkish Thoracic Society has released a statement, warning that recent days have witnessed a serious increase in the number of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) cases, fatalities and intensive care patients.

Published on the society's website under the title "Thorax Warns," the statement has stressed that as far as the society is informed by its members, there is a serious increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in Turkey: "We are concerned that the control of the pandemic is being lost and think that we are rapidly approaching the second peak of the first wave."

The society has also reminded the public that with the "normalization steps" taken since June 1, social distance is no more in numerous social occasions such as wedding ceremonies, entrance exams, public transportation, mass prayer and tourism. It has raised the following concerns:

'Uninformed about the increasing number of cases...'

"The number of pandemic services has been decreased in hospitals, some hospitals are now no longer pandemic hospitals.

"As it is known that PCR tests can scientifically detect only 40 percent of the patients, it is thought that the announced number of cases and fatalities is less than half of the actual number.

"Even the conditions to implement this test have been narrowed down and it has been decided that if individuals do not show the symptoms, they should not be tested even when they have the risk of spreading the disease. That being the case, the opportunity to find new cases among the ones who do not have complaints, but have a high infection risk has been lost.

"The number of patients increased in June and July; however, as the criteria to hospitalize patients have changed, this increase has not been reflected in the 'turquoise table' where the data on coronavirus are shared by the Ministry of Health on a daily basis.

"Uninformed about the increasing number of cases, citizens cannot comprehend the gravity of the pandemic, some of them have developed mechanisms of denial referring to the prolongation of the process."

'COVID-19 not recognized as occupational disease'

Further in its statement, the Turkish Thoracic Society has noted that the number of inpatients and intensive care patients exceeds the capacity. "Public authorities must now inform the public about the increasing load of patients," the society has said, briefly adding the following:

"That hydroxychloroquine is still in the medication protocols does not comply with the up-to-date literature. We are informed that, in the recent period, there has been difficulty in finding medicine, even favipiravir recommended in the up-to-date treatment guide, in some provinces.

"While coronavirus is a disease affecting multiple organs, several hospitals recognize pulmonologists as the only responsible physicians, which causes them to be faced with superhuman workload.

"Burnout has been diagnosed in health workers. In the last week, several pulmonologists have either wanted to retire or quit their jobs, especially in Alanya, Batman and Manisa.

"Health workers keep catching COVID-19 and losing their lives. COVID-19 has still not been recognized as an occupational disease.

"While physicians keep struggling against the pandemic, disregarding their own lives, a bill of law on 'the responsibility arising from the poor application of medical services' has been submitted to the Parliament. The bill foresees heavy fines and prison sentences for physicians. That such a law is deemed worthy for the physicians working at the cost of their lives also leads to a sense of hopelessness and unjust treatment."

The society has also listed eight recommendations for the detected problems. Among these recommendations are also an increase in the number of tests, a solution to the lack of necessary medication, recognition of COVID-19 as an occupational disease for health workers, announcement of all epidemiological data to health workers as well as to the public in a transparent manner and withdrawal of the bill. (RT/SD)