Turkish Medical Association calls for indoor mask mandate as Covid cases triple in two weeks

The government should reintroduce the indoor mask mandate amid an increase in the number of daily new coronavirus cases, according to the Turkish Medical Association (TTB).

"An increase is observed in the number of Covid-19 cases. Vaccination, which has come to a standstill, should be resumed to include risky citizens and children," the association said last night (July 3) on Twitter.

Turkey lifted the indoor mask mandate in late April. After daily new cases dropped below 1,000 according to the official figures, the mask mandate in public transport was also lifted.

In June, the Ministry of Health started publishing weekly coronavirus statistics rather than giving daily updates.

After the delayed announcement of the weekly table for June 20-26, Minister of Health Koca said the number of daily cases had tripled.

Later released, the table showed the ministry recorded 26,635 cases in a week, up from 10,954 in the previous week. (VK)