Main opposition CHP Spokesperson Öztrak tests positive for COVID-19

* Photo: Anadolu Agency (AA)

Click to read the article in Turkish

The main opposition Republican Peoples' Party (CHP) had a closed-door Party Assembly meeting on September 8. Among the issues discussed in this meeting was the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak which has been witnessing "its second peak of the first wave" since July in Turkey.

As reported by Ayşe Sayın from the BBC, Prof. Gaye Usluer and Prof. Aylin Yaman, who are physicians themselves, made a presentation about the current situation during the meeting, which was followed by a discussion about what policies and measures to adopt in this process.

While it was reportedly indicated in the meeting that the numbers of cases and deaths announced by the Ministry of Health on a daily basis are not transparent, it was further emphasized that "a premature transition to normalization process" led to the recent surge in cases.

The CHP Party Assembly made the following observations about the management of the outbreak in Turkey:

* Normalization was premature.

* Decisions are not taken by the Ministry of Health's Science Board.

* Contact tracing is not done properly.

* The ones other than positive cases are not reported.

* The system of some hospitals does not accept "COVID-19" data.

* There might arise problems with human resources in healthcare.

* Other healthcare services are interrupted.

* COVID-19 must be recognized as an occupational disease.

* Cooperation with local governments is necessary.

Öztrak: I have tested positive

On the other side, CHP Tekirdağ MP and Spokesperson Faik Öztrak has shared a brief message on social media and announced that he has tested positive for the virus. Öztrak has made the following remarks:

"I have just learned that my COVID-19 tests has turned out to be positive. My health condition is quite good now. But I will work from home for a couple of weeks. I would like to thank everyone who called and asked about my health. I kindly request the ones who have recently been in contact with me without masks to be tested for the virus."

Yaptırdığım Covid-19 testinin pozitif çıktığını az önce öğrendim.
Sağlık durumum şu an gayet iyi.
Fakat birkaç hafta evden çalışacağım.
Arayıp soran herkese çok teşekkür ederim.
Yakın zamanda benimle maskesiz temasta bulunanların test yaptırmasını rica ediyorum.

— Faik Öztrak (@faikoztrak) September 9, 2020

(EMK/SD)