* Photo: Anadolu Agency (AA)
Click to read the article in Turkish
President and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has addressed the public about the efforts to combat coronavirus, which has so far claimed the lives of 59 people in Turkey.
"It is possible for us to overcome this process in the shortest time possible and with the least damage possible by curbing the spreading speed of the disease through a good isolation," President Erdoğan has emphasized and informed the public that Turkey is "currently monitoring 53 thousand citizens at homes and 8,554 cases at hospitals."
Other highlights from Erdoğan's address to the citizens are as follows:
'We rapidly implemented a wide range of measures'
"Our country has started to take effective measures against COVID-19 as of January 20. Flights to and from the countries where the disease escalated to the level of pandemic, first and foremost China, were cancelled and land crossings with these countries were limited or, when necessary, closed.
"The first-ever case of COVID-19 disease in our country was spotted on March 10. In the following days, we have rapidly implemented a wide range of measures such as closing schools, postponing foreign assignments, putting on hold the services provided in places where people come together, and canceling certain activities.
"The number of citizens with COVID-19 reached 47 within a week after the first-ever diagnosis, with the first death taking place on March 18. We announced a financial support package worth nearly 100 billion TRY following the comprehensive assessment meeting we held on March 18.
'Over 8 thousand cases monitored at hospitals'
"As of today (March 25), the number of people with COVID-19 worldwide has reached 426 thousand, and 19 thousand people have died thus far.
"In our country, we are currently monitoring 53 thousand citizens at homes and 8,554 cases at hospitals.
"While 797 of them have been discharged from hospital after total recovery, samples have been taken from 4,603 people for further examination.
"1,872 people, who have been diagnosed with COVID-19, are now under treatment. 44 patients of ours have unfortunately lost their lives while receiving treatment.
'We must protect the elderly'
"And, the only way to prevent our patients and elderly from being infected is to voluntarily put ourselves in quarantine, that is to not leave our homes unless we have to.
"In fact, all our patients, who lost their lives, had other diseases besides the COVID-19.
"It is a must particularly for our elderly to not go out by any means during this process and to continue their lives at their homes for both their and other people's health.
"The reason for our sensitivity about our elderly is not that they infect other people, but to prevent them from being infected.
"Therefore, we should protect our elderly. We cannot approve even the slightest disrespect that will hurt our elderly.
'32 thousand additional medical personnel to be hired'
"In the last 17 years, Turkey has put into practice the most robust and widespread general health insurance in the world, built the most modern hospitals, and entered this process as a country that has reached the highest standards of service with its over 1 million medical personnel.
"Today our country has an enormous medical army of 165 thousand doctors, 490 thousand other medical personnel including 205 thousand nurses and 360 thousand support personnel working at the Ministry of Health, universities and the private sector.
"We have initiated works to hire 32 thousand additional medical personnel.
'We will curb its spread in the shortest time'
"In the past, we used to ask for help from the World during such crisis eras. Today, 69 countries from around the world requested help from Turkey. The needed materials were sent to 17 of them.
"We are prepared for all possible scenarios.It is possible for us to overcome this process in the shortest time possible and with the least damage possible by curbing the spreading speed of the disease through a good isolation.
"Otherwise, as we have seen in many examples at our environment, it is inevitable for us to face with more negative outcomes and thus more drastic measures.
'We enter new era with advantages'
"We as a country and a nation have overcome all problems and attacks we have been faced with so far by standing in unity and solidarity. We will hopefully defeat the coronavirus threat in the same way.
"We may be up against an invisible virus but no enemy is greater than our nation's unity, solidarity, strength and sagacity.
"The World is headed towards an era where nothing will be the same in the aftermath of this pandemic and a new global political, economic and social system will be built.
"We, as Turkey, are entering this new era with great advantages and a strong infrastructure. A bright future is hopefully awaiting us." (EKN/SD)
