Health Minister Koca: One More Person Tested Positive for Covid-19 in Turkey
* Photos & Source: Anadolu Agency (AA)
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Minister of Health Fahrettin Koca has announced that a citizen who returned to Turkey from Ummah in Saudi Arabia in past weeks has tested positive for Covid-19, the new strain of coronavirus.
Shortly after Minister Koca's statement, the Ministry of Youth and Sports has announced that 10,330 people who have recently arrived in Ankara from Umrah have been quarantined in students' dormitories in the capital city of Ankara and central Anatolian province of Konya.
Having announced its first coronavirus case on March 11, Turkey has confirmed six cases of the virus so far.
Minister Koca has announced the sixth Covid-19 case in a brief message on his Twitter account yesterday evening (March 14):
"If you have recently returned from Umrah, we insistently want you to follow the 14-day [isolation] rule. Unfortunately, the coronavirus test of a citizen who returned from Umrah in the last week turned out to be positive. We are concerned about new cases. Please do not accept visitors. Passing medical screening does not mean zero risk."
UMREDEN YENİ DÖNDÜYSENİZ 14 Gün Kuralına uymanızı ısrarla istiyoruz. Son bir hafta içinde dönen bir yurttaşımızın testi MAALESEF POZİTİF çıktı. Yeni vakalardan endişeliyiz. Lütfen ziyaretçi kabul etmeyin. Sağlık taramasından geçmiş olmak sıfır risk anlamına gelmez.
— Dr. Fahrettin Koca (@drfahrettinkoca) March 14, 2020
Umrah is the Islamic pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia that Muslims can undertake at any time of the year.
Warning by Directorate of Religious Affairs
Director of Religious Affairs Ali Erbaş has also warned that 5,300 citizens who have most recently returned from Umrah should not leave their houses or accept visitors for 14 days for both their own health and to protect others. Sharing a message on Twitter Erbaş has said:
"Today, the last 5 thousand 300 citizens of ours return from Umrah. I would like to remind them once again to absolutely not leave their houses and not accept any visitors for 14 days for both their own health and protect the people around them. It is a rightful due."
Those returning from Umrah quarantined in dorms
Shortly after a citizen returning from Umrah to Turkey has tested positive for coronavirus, the Ministry of Youth and Sports has announced that those have come back to Turkey from Umrah in Saudi Arabia have been quarantined in student dormitories in Ankara and Konya.
Accordingly, 10,330 citizens who have returned from Umrah first underwent a medical check, then have been accomodated in dormitories affiliated with the Credit and Dormitories Institution (KYK).
Following this decision, the students staying in some of the designated dormitories were evacuated at 3 a.m. in the morning today. While there were few students in the dorms as all primary, secondary and high schools as well as universities have been temporarily closed over coronavirus concerns, students still staying in the dorms have slammed their hurried evacuation in the middle of the night. Students were made to get on privately-owned public busses and have been transferred to other dormitories.
The names of dormitories and the number of quarantined people there have been indicated as follows:
In Ankara
Şehit Özel Harekat: 2,064
Milli İrade: 1,880
Gölbaşı: 1,448
Total: 5,392
In Konya
Tahir Büyükkörükçü: 2,228
Kutalmışoğlu: 2,710
Total: 4,938
Coronavirus cases around the worldAfter emerging in Wuhan, China last December, the virus known as COVID-19, has spread to at least 123 countries and territories. The global death toll from the virus has surpassed 5,300 with more than 142,000 cases confirmed worldwide, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). You can see the number of coronavirus cases and death toll by countries in below interactive map shared by Washington University: |
How to protect oneself from the new Coronavirus?According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the protective measures against the new coronavirus (Covid-19) can be briefly listed as follows: Wash your hands frequently Regularly and thoroughly clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water. Why? Washing your hands with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand rub kills viruses that may be on your hands. Maintain social distancing Maintain at least 1 metre (3 feet) distance between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing. Why? When someone coughs or sneezes they spray small liquid droplets from their nose or mouth which may contain virus. If you are too close, you can breathe in the droplets, including the COVID-19 virus if the person coughing has the disease. Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth Why? Hands touch many surfaces and can pick up viruses. Once contaminated, hands can transfer the virus to your eyes, nose or mouth. From there, the virus can enter your body and can make you sick. Practice respiratory hygiene Make sure you, and the people around you, follow good respiratory hygiene. This means covering your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze. Then dispose of the used tissue immediately. Why? Droplets spread virus. By following good respiratory hygiene you protect the people around you from viruses such as cold, flu and COVID-19. If you have fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical care early Why? National and local authorities will have the most up to date information on the situation in your area. Calling in advance will allow your health care provider to quickly direct you to the right health facility. This will also protect you and help prevent spread of viruses and other infections. |
(AÖ/SD)