Covid-19 in Turkey: Death Toll Hits 4,746, WHO Says It's 'Closely Following' Use of Malaria Drug

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Turkey's death toll from the coronavirus pandemic has climbed to 4,746 with a total of 173,036 cases, the Health Ministry has announced.

Seventeen deaths and 922 new infections were reported for the past 24 hours. The ministry also confirmed 2,241 daily recoveries from the novel coronavirus, bringing the tally to 146,839.

"Following stay-home orders for those over the age of 65 years, the rate of Covid-19 infection in this age group declined by 50 percent," the Minister Fahrettin Koca said at a press conference after a meeting with the ministry's Science Committee.

The minister added that the average age in the new cases was 36 and the new fatalities was 71. 

While new cases in İstanbul, which has about 60 percent of the total cases in the country, have been decreasing, there has been an increase in the eastern and southeastern regions.

He noted that the risk continues and it will be possible to reach the very last case only by following the measures.

WHO: We are closely following Turkey's use of malaria drug

Earlier, Koca briefed World Health Organization (WHO) Europe Director Hans Kluge about the measures adopted countrywide to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

Data was also shared at the online meeting between Koca and Kluge, the Health Ministry said in a statement.

Congratulating Turkey on its success in curbing the virus, Kluge said he will visit Turkey once international travel restrictions are lifted.

"While the number of patients in intensive care units was around 200 in April, today it is around 50," Koca said, stressing the country used digitalization in health to its advantage.

Kluge said they were closely following Turkey's experience regarding the use of hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malaria drug that is believed to treat Covid-19 by some practitioners.

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However, he said, they are also looking forward to seeing scientific studies on it.

"I want to thank Turkey once again for universal health coverage provided to the refugees," Kluge added.

The pandemic has killed more than 413,000 people worldwide, with over 7.29 million confirmed cases and more than 3.4 million recoveries, according to figures compiled by the US' Johns Hopkins University.

Daily fatalities, cases and deaths reported by the Health Ministry:

(EKN/VK)