‘İstanbul has seen a drop in the number of intensive care patients’

* Photo: Anadolu Agency (AA)

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İstanbul Provincial Director of Health Kemal Memişoğlu and Minister of Interior Süleyman Soylu have made statements about the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak amid 'full lockdown' in Turkey.

Making a statement on his Twitter account, Prof. Memişoğlu has said, "There has been a significant decrease in the number of cases, inpatients and intensive care patients in the last week. Thank you İstanbul."

Sharing a table titled "Comparison of April 21-27 and April 28-May 4", Memişoğlu has indicated that while the number of cases has dropped by 34.80 percent, that of inpatients has decreased by 24.90 percent and that of intensive care patients has dropped by 21 percent in a week.

Son bir haftada vaka, yatan hasta ve yoğun bakım HASTALARIMIZDA önemli bir AZALMA kaydettik. TEŞEKKÜRLER İSTANBUL pic.twitter.com/u4HAvjedSQ

— Prof. Dr. Kemal Memişoğlu (@drmemisoglu) May 9, 2021

'We are expecting one more sacrifice'

Minister of Interior Süleyman Soylu has also made a statement about the issue during a security meeting in eastern Kars province.

As reported by the state-run Anadolu Agency (AA), Soylu has referred to the Eid al Fitr, which will be marked in Turkey on May 13-15, and said:

"We are expecting one more sacrifice from our nation.

"This disease spreads with contact. We need to observe the measures together. Otherwise, if we do not observe the measures while exchanging eid greetings, our sacrifice will come to naught. We know that they are making a huge sacrifice. But first patience, then eid."

Minister Soylu has also noted that before the 'full lockdown' entered into effect, the case number was 63 thousand in a day, this number has now dropped to around 18 thousand a day. (RT/SD)