Covid-19 in Turkey: Minister says surge caused by easing of measures as daily cases near 1,500

Photo: Ankara/AA

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Turkey's death from the novel coronavirus pandemic has risen to 5,025 as the Health Ministry reported 24 deaths for the past 24 hours.

The ministry has recorded the highest number of daily cases since June 15 with 1,492, bringing the total tally to 191,657.

"Although the number of tests were 10,000 more than the previous day, the result warns all of us against the increasing risk," Minister Fahrettin Koca said on Twitter.

Turkey has seen a new surge over the past few weeks after the reopening on June 1. "The cause of the increase is the easing of measures with the summer. We don't have any other choice than measures," Koca further noted.

The number of new recoveries were 1,386, dropping below new cases. The need for intensive care units continued to increase.

Here are today's numbers:

	Today	Yesterday	Total
Cases	1,492	1,268	191,657
Deaths	24	27	5,025
Tests	53,486	42,982	3,083,121
Recoveries	1,386	1,315	164,234
ICU patients			914 (+21)
Intubated patients			356 (-6)

Coronavirus reopening in Turkey

Turkey's easing of coronavirus measures started as early as on May 11, when the government reopened shopping malls, albeit with new physical distancing and hygiene rules. This was followed by more steps on June 1, including the reopening of cafes, restarurants and similar places, as well as parks, beaches and recreation areas.

On the same day, entry and exit restrictions for 15 larger provinces, including İstanbul and Ankara, were lifted and domestic flights resumed.

On June 5, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan abruptly lifted a weekend curfew for the 15 provinces, which was declared by the Interior Ministry about 12 hours before. The weekend curfews had been in place since April 11.

The President further announced on June 9 that people over the age of 65 would be allowed to go out between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. A curfew was declared for the elderly on March 22. Those younger than 18 were also allowed to go out on the condition of being with their parents.

The government also resumed international flights on June 11 and announced that all tourism facilities, theaters and concert halls would reopen on July 1.

(VK)