‘Number of Delta cases is gradually increasing in Turkey’

* Photo: Aytuğ Can Sencar - Diyarbakır / AA Archive

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Following the Presidential Cabinet meeting yesterday (July 12), Health Minister Fahrettin Koca has answered the questions of journalists.

In response to a question regarding the slowdown in the COVID-19 vaccination, Koca has said that "they, as the public institutions, do not want to have compulsion on their agenda and they rather want to use the method of persuading citizens" to get vaccinated against the virus.

'Not by forcing, but by persuading'

Koca has noted that while the vaccination rates are low in the East and South East, there is a gradual increase in these regions as well.

According to the Minister's statement, the vaccination rate is around 50 percent in Hakkari, 40 percent in Şırnak and around 50 percent in Ardahan. As in the case of Kars, the vaccination rate is nearly 50 percent in Adıyaman province, according to Minister Koca.

Underlining the necessity to personally visit citizens for vaccination, Koca has said, "We have to be on duty with mobile teams."

He has added, "We do not want to vaccinate people with a method other than persuasion. Can the private sector do it? It is something beside us."

Vaccination target: 70 percent

Health Minister Fahrettin Koca has noted that their target is to ensure that 70 percent of the population aged 18 and over will be vaccinated. According to Koca, this rate is now around 61 percent.

Speaking about the latest situation in the face of the Delta variant, he has said: "The number of Delta virus cases is gradually increasing in our country, just as it is increasing across the world.

"The number of Delta cases has reached 750; the number of provinces where it has been diagnosed has also increased to 36. As for the Delta plus, three cases have been diagnosed in three provinces."

20-percent increase in number of cases

Koca has also warned that the number of cases, which should have dropped in the recent period, has not dropped, especially since Wednesday, adding that the number of cases rose by nearly 20 percent at the weekend when it is compared to the number of cases last weekend.

Indicating that "they see that the number of cases has not seen the drop they expected and there is a possibility that it will increase", Koca has underlined that these increases have been encountered especially in the places where the COVID-19 vaccination rates are low.

"We see that there is an increase in our provinces such as Diyarbakır, Şırnak and Adıyaman in the East and South East, or more precisely in the places where the vaccination rates are low," Koca has said. Referring to the approaching Sacrifice Feast next week, Koca has noted that there is a need for intensive vaccination in these regions until the feast.

'We don't recommend lockdown or restriction'

Koca was asked a question about the possibility of a partial lockdown or measures in near future. He said, "We do not recommend a new lockdown or restriction. Until social immunity is ensured, we expect everyone to show sensitivity about the issue of measures. We recommend that indoor areas with poor ventilation should be avoided and masks should be worn indoors."

Is a 'fourth wave' possible?

Asked about his views on a possible fourth wave, Koca has said, "This is not the case for now, but it does not mean that it will not happen. The fourth wave can be prevented only by intensive vaccination and social immunity. When the social immunity hits 70 percent, even 80 percent, the outbreak will end or subside, there will be at least a return to normal life."

Speaking about Russia's Sputnik V vaccine, 400 thousand doses of which have been delivered to Turkey, Koca has said that "it will not take long" and "they expect the rest to be delivered after the feast". (AS/SD)