* Photo: Mehmet Ali Özcan / AA (Archive)
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Minister of Health Fahrettin Koca has made a statement about the latest figures on novel coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak in Turkey.
Sharing a brief message on Twitter late in the evening today (March 21), Minister Koca has announced that 2,953 people have been tested in the last 24 hours and 277 of them have tested positive for the virus.
Indicating that the total number of Covid-19 cases has reached 947 in Turkey, Minister Koca has also announced that 12 more people have lost their lives due to coronavirus. The total death toll has increased to 21.
"We have lost 12 of our old patients", Koca has said and added, "Let us warn our elderly. Let us ensure that they obey the restrictions on going out in public. The higher the age, the higher the risk of death."
Minister Koca announced the first coronavirus case in Turkey on March 11 and the first death from the virus on March 17.
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Number of cases and deaths in Turkey till today
March 11: 1 case
March 13: 5 cases
March 14: 6 cases
March 15: 18 cases
March 16: 47 cases
March 17: 98 cases, 1 death
March 18: 191 cases, 2 deaths
March 19: 359 cases, 4 deaths
March 20: 670 cases, 9 deaths
Map: Washington University |
About the novel coronavirusWhat is a coronavirus? Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses which may cause illness in animals or humans. In humans, several coronaviruses are known to cause respiratory infections ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). The most recently discovered coronavirus causes coronavirus disease Covid-19. What is Covid-19? Covid-19 is the infectious disease caused by the most recently discovered coronavirus. This new virus and disease were unknown before the outbreak began in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. How does Covid-19 spread? People can catch Covid-19 from others who have the virus. The disease can spread from person to person through small droplets from the nose or mouth which are spread when a person with Covid-19 coughs or exhales. These droplets land on objects and surfaces around the person. Other people then catch Covid-19 by touching these objects or surfaces, then touching their eyes, nose or mouth. Can the virus that causes Covid-19 be transmitted through the air? Studies to date suggest that the virus that causes Covid-19 is mainly transmitted through contact with respiratory droplets rather than through the air. Source: World Health Organization |
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