Turkey Announces First Death from Coronavirus as Number of Cases Doubles in 24 Hours

The country also confirmed 51 additional cases of Covid-19, bringing the total tally to 98.

İstanbul

Turkey Announces First Death from Coronavirus as Number of Cases Doubles in 24 Hours

Click to read the article in Turkish / Kurdish

Turkey has the first death from the novel coronavirus outbreak, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca has announced.

The deceased person was an 89-year-old male and got the virus from one of his employees who had been to China, Koca stated at a press conference at around 11.55 p.m. (8.55 GMT) yesterday (March 17).

The minister also announced that 51 more people tested positive for the virus in one day, bringing the tally to 98 cases

After confirming its first case on March 11, Turkey has taken a series of measures, including shutting down cafes and bars, canceling events and gatherings and restricting flights.

The outbreak emerged in China's Wuhan city in December and has so far spread to more than 140 countries, infecting nearly 190 thousand people. The World Health Organization declared the outbreak a pandemic.

CLICK - Turkey's Coronavirus Tally Jumps to 47 Cases

CLICK - Turkey Confirms 18th Coronavirus Case

CLICK - Health Minister Koca: One More Person Tested Positive for Covid-19 in Turkey

CLICK - Turkey Confirms Fifth Coronavirus Case, Suspends Flights with European Countries

Map: Washington University

(EKN/VK)