Turkey confirms over 36,000 new Covid cases as Omicron spreads

Minister Koca receiving Turkovac booster dose (Photo: AA)

The Ministry of Health confirmed 36,684 new Covid-19 infections, 142 deaths, and 25,638 recoveries over the past day.

The number of daily cases has increased sharply after Minister Koca said on Saturday (December 25) that the Omicron variant makes up about 10 percent of the new cases in big cities. The ministry reported slightly over 20,000 cases on Sunday.

A day later, the ministry confirmed that the variant had been detected in six cities — İstanbul, İzmir, Kütahya, Uşak, Diyarbakır and Urfa.

Despite increasing new cases, there has been no increase in hospitalizations, Koca said yesterday (December 29).

Turkovac

Following the virtual meeting of the Coronavirus Scientific Advisory Board yesterday, Health Koca received his booster shot of the domestic Covid-19 vaccine Turkovac in Ankara.

"I strongly advise our people to be vaccinated with Turkovac, and especially to have a booster shot of it," he said.

Turkey will start offering the Turkovac vaccine as of today, the minister noted.

The Turkish Medical Association (TTB) voiced concerns over the lack of scientific publications about the new vaccine.

Vaccination

Turkey has administered more than 130.61 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines since it launched an immunization drive in January, according to the ministry figures.

More than 56.86 million people have received a first jab, while over 51.53 million have received at least two doses.

Also given third booster shots have been administered to more than 18.34 million people.

Over 83 percent of the country's adult population have received at least two doses.

(VK)