Ministry's Science Committee Doesn't Expect Major Coronavirus Outbreak in Turkey

Disinfection work at a courthouse. (Photo: Ministry of Justice)

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Turkey might get through the coronavirus without a major outbreak as temperatures have begun to rise, according to a member of the Health Ministry's Corona Science Committee.

"An advantage of the late arrival of the disease in Turkey was the beginning of the period when the air temperature increases. We are entering the summer period. This virus mostly makes an outbreak in the winter season. With spring and summer, all outbreaks in the world are weakened and over," Prof. Tevfik Özlü told the National Lung Health Congress in the southern Antalya province.

CLICK - Turkey Confirms 2nd Coronavirus Case

"I hope we get through this period without a large-scale outbreak in Turkey. It is difficult to say that the disease is in a definite relationship with the climate, but we know from the previous experiences that the outbreaks stop in April or May."

Turkey confirmed its second Covid19 case today (March 13) as the virus has been found in all of its neighbors. The country will temporarily close schools as of Monday (March 16) and sports games will be played without supporters until the end of April.

"It's hard to say exactly what will happen. We should consider that the threat continues and take the necessary measures. We are successful in terms of the late arrival of the disease, but there are things we need to do right to prevent its contagiousness and spread," Özlü further stated.

"The spread of the virus is through droplet infections from sick people to healthy people. Droplet infections do not affect a person 1.5 meters away ... It is very important to maintain a distance of 1.5 meters if we have to be around people."

(DB/VK)