Covid-19: Turkey's Death Toll Hits 1,643, Total Tests Surpass 500 Thousand

Since yesterday's update, 125 people have died and 4,801 new cases have been found.

İstanbul

Covid-19: Turkey's Death Toll Hits 1,643, Total Tests Surpass 500 Thousand

Pharmacy workers in İstanbul stand in silence for a colleague died of Covid-19.

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Turkey's death toll from the novel coronavirus pandemic has increased to 1,643 as 125 people died in a day, the Health Ministry has announced on its website. The number of total cases has reached 74,193 with 4,801 new cases, according to the figures.

The number of coronavirus tests in a day surpassed 40 thousand for the first time with 40,427. A total of 518,143 tests have been carried our so far. The number of tests is not the same with the number of people who were tested as some people can be tested multiple times. The ministry doesn't disclose information about how many people have been tested.

The number of patients in intensive care is 1,854 with 1,040 intubated patients and 7,089 people have recovered from the disease. The number of intubated patients reduced for the first time.

320 citizens of Turkey died abroad

The pandemic has so far killed 320 citizens of Turkey living abroad, the state-run AA reported, citing diplomaic sources.

A total of 99 citizens in France, 71 in Germany, 54 in the Netherlands, 32 in the UK, 29 in Belgium, 13 in the US, and 12 in Sweden died from the virus, while in Austria and Switzerland each, four expats lost their lives, the sources said. In Northern Cyprus and Lebanon, one citizen, in each country, succumbed to the disease.

Globally, more than 2.09 million people have been infected by coronavirus, with the death toll nearing 140,000, according to data compiled by the U.S.' Johns Hopkins University. Over 528,700 recovered from the pandemic so far.

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What 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. The virus was named SARS-CoV-2 by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses.

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.

What are the symptoms?

Covid-19 symptoms include cough, fever, shortness of breath, muscle aches, sore throat, unexplained loss of taste or smell.

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. Studies to date suggest that the virus is mainly transmitted through contact with respiratory droplets rather than through the air.

How did the outbreak begin?

Although health officials are still tracing the exact source of this new coronavirus, early hypotheses thought it may be linked to a seafood market in Wuhan. Some people who visited the market developed viral pneumonia caused by the new coronavirus. A study that came out on January 25, 2020, notes that the individual with the first reported case became ill on December 1, 2019, and had no link to the seafood market. Investigations are ongoing as to how this virus originated and spread.

Sources: World Health Organization, Johns Hopkins University

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BIA News Desk