‘Pandemic is not over, 11,565 people died in 2.5 months’

* Photo: AA - File

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The Turkish Medical Association (TTB) has made a statement regarding the postponement of the meeting to be held by Health Minister Fahrettin Koca and the Coronavirus Science Board yesterday (April 20).

Recalling that the minister broke the good news of "a life without masks" last week, the TTB has indicated that sharing the meeting's agenda beforehand meant that "the outbreak is not taken seriously."

Signed by its Pandemic Working Group, the TTB statement has "once again reminded the Health Ministry and its Coronavirus Scientific Advisory Board that the outbreak is not over and it still continues."

The TTB said, "The personal protective measures such as wearing masks and maintaining hygiene and social distancing should remain in place. We must not remove several measures from our lives such as ventilation and not staying in closed spaces for a long period of time."

The TTB also raised concerns about the low rate of vaccination in Turkey: "As our full vaccination rate is low and there is a possibility of a new variant, we advocate that vaccination must be paid more attention."

In his speech on January 29, 2022, the TTB has recalled, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said, "The rising numbers of cases should not scare you; I say it as your Health Minister: Don't worry, the disease is not as potent as before." According to the TTB, since a day after these remarks, 11 thousand 565 people have lost their lives due to the virus as of April 19.

"Unfortunately, the outbreak does not end when the Health Minister says, 'It is over'," commented the TTB further.

The Association called on the Health Ministry to ensure full vaccination of people at risk, to develop the mechanisms for the adequate protection of people from deadly variants and to give account for the nearly 300 thousand preventable deaths during the pandemic. (RT/SD)