Nurse given warning by hospital after contracting coronavirus

A nurse in southern Turkey has been warned for violating distancing rules after being diagnosed with Covid-19.

Evrim Kepenek

Photo: AA/File

Click to read the article in Turkish

A public hospital in the southern Mersin province has issued a warning to a nurse for being infected with the coronavirus.

Sending a letter to the nurse, Toros State Hospital noted that all staff members were informed regarding the full and complete use of personal protective equipment and physical distancing measures.

However, it said, it was found that the nurse violated the distancing measures and is warned for that.

Disciplinary action would be taken against the nurse in case of further violations, says the letter.

CLICK - Turkish Medical Association: At least 20,000 health workers are infected with Covid-19

Alpay Antmen, a Republican People's Party (CHP) deputy from Mersin, said on Twitter that issuing a warning to an infected health worker was a scandal.

Mentioning Minister of Health Fahrettin Koca, he said, "Health workers die every day. Will you take disciplinary action against them for dying?"

Speaking to bianet, Antmen said that the minister tried to make a success story out of the pandemic but it turned into a "death story" for health workers.

The ministry misled the public by easing restrictions and the people and health workers are paying the price of it, he added.

The deputy called on the ministry to recognize Covid-19 as an occupational disease for health workers. (EMK/VK)

Origin

BIA News Desk

covid-19 covîd-19 coronavirus pandemic vk Health workers coronavirus outbreak

Evrim Kepenek

@kepenekevrimm

[email protected]

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Editor of bianet Women’s News (2018). Editor of bianet Women’s and LGBTI+ News from October 2018 to February 2025. She conducts workshops on gender-focused journalism...

Editor of bianet Women’s News (2018). Editor of bianet Women’s and LGBTI+ News from October 2018 to February 2025. She conducts workshops on gender-focused journalism and reporting on gender-based violence. She is among the founders of the Women and LGBTI+ Commission of the Journalists’ Union of Turkey (TGS). She is a board member of the TGS Istanbul Branch for the 2023–2027 term. She received the Musa Anter Journalism Award in 2011 and the Turkish Psychiatric Association’s Best News Award in 2024. She worked as a reporter for Cumhuriyet, BirGün, İMC TV, DİHA, Jinha, and Jin News, and also worked for local newspapers in Rize. Her news reports and articles have been published in Sivil Sayfalar, Yeşil Gazete, Journo, and trade magazines. She is one of the founding writers of GOR, a Hemşin culture magazine. She contributed writings to the books Yeşilden Maviye Karadenizden Kadın Portreleri, Sırtında Sepeti, and Medya ve Yalanlar. She was a bianet intern in 2000. She graduated from the Department of International Relations at Istanbul Bilgi University.