‘Turkey is experiencing stage 4 of COVID-19 pandemic’

* Photo: Anadolu Agency (AA)

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Amid an increase in the numbers of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) cases and deaths in Turkey, the Turkish Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Association (KLİMİK) has released a statement and called on the authorities to manage the pandemic based on scientific knowledge.

The association has underlined that Turkey has been among the countries with the highest number of cases for the last 14 days. The Executive Board of the association has noted that "the numbers of patients and deaths have never been so high at any stage of the pandemic before."

At the current situation, the association has said, Turkey has been experiencing the Stage 4 of the COVID-19 outbreak, according to the classification of the World Health Organization (WHO).

The association has noted that considering the gravity of the outbreak and the capacity of the healthcare system, Turkey is now going through Stage 4, namely the final stage of the outbreak.

"In other words, there is a situation where the outbreak is spreading uncontrollably and the healthcare system is having difficulty in bearing the burden of the outbreak," the association has explained.

Association calls for strict measures

According to the KLİMİK's statement, "considering that taking the spread of the virus under control is expected to be very difficult at this stage, a stricter implementation of the measures is recommended."

"It is advisable to introduce these strict measures in all necessary regions in the shortest time possible," the association has underlined further, adding that "case tracing must be reinforced and society must be properly informed about the risks at the current stage of the outbreak, thereby increasing their compliance with the personal protective measures."

In addition to these measures, the KLİMİK association has also recommended five more measures:

• Staying home and restricting social contact with people outside the household;
• Ensuring that the ones doing critical jobs (in healthcare, food, etc.) continue working with maximum support and security measures;
• Closing uncritical jobs or adopting distance working;
• Considering all options to continue face-to-face education and, if not possible, restricting face-to-face contact;
• Introducing strict measures in all care homes and old people's houses such as forbidding visits so that infection risk can be reduced.

'Scientific recommendations not heeded'

Concluding its statement, the association has said:

"We are of the opinion that the main reason behind the current stage of the pandemic in our country is that scientific recommendations were not adequately taken into account, especially after the first wave.

"In order for us, as a society, to get over this stage with minimal damage, we recommend that scientific recommendations and realities be heeded as soon as possible, the outbreak be managed based on scientific data and scientific recommendations be put into practice URGENTLY without any more delay." (AÖ/SD)