Public Transport Use Plunges in İstanbul Amid Coronavirus Fears

Disinfection work at the subway station on Taksim Square, İstanbul. (Images and photos: Murat Ongun / Twitter)

Click to read the article in Turkish

İstanbulites have been using public transport less since Turkey confirmed its first Covid-19 case, according to the figures released by the municipal spokesperson.

While around seven million people used public transport vehicles on March 11, the day the Health Ministry confirmed the first case, the number dropped to 6.7 million and then 6.2 million in the next two days, respectively, show the graphs tweeted by spokesperson Murat Ongun.

The decrease is more evident in figures on the usage at weekends as it dropped by nearly a half on the first Sunday after the announcement of the first case. The usage on Saturday also decreased by 37 percent compared to the same day a week earlier.

As public health authorities advise frequent use of hand disinfectants, the Metropolitan Municipality has set up "disinfectant and information points" near public transport stops and stations in the city of 15 million.

Since March 11, the number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in Turkey has increased to 18. All people who contracted the virus came from abroad or were in the close circles of people who came from abroad, according to the Health Ministry. It gave no details about in which provinces the cases were found and the gender and age of the patients.

The new strain of coronavirus was first diagnosed in Wuhan, China on December 12, 2019. Releasing a statement on December 31, the Health Commission of Wuhan Municipality announced that 27 other people having links with the Huanan Seafood Market were also diagnosed with the virus.

The first findings of the scientific research conducted on the coronavirus showed that its genetic sequence emerged from bat and snake species unique to China. Accordingly, the sale of wild animals has been forbidden in the country until the outbreak ends.

The disease has spread to more than 140 countries since then, affecting nearly 160 thousand people.

Interactive map of the coronavirus outbreak

(TP/VK)