Turkey's Covid-19 Death Toll Surpasses 700

In the last 24 hours, 76 people died and 3,893 people tested positive for coronavirus, Health Minister Koca has announced.

İstanbul

Turkey's Covid-19 Death Toll Surpasses 700

Photo: AA

Click to read the article in Turkish / Kurdish

Turkey's death toll from the novel coronavirus pandemic has risen to 725 as 76 people died in a day, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca announced today (April 7) in a press conference in the capital Ankara.

The number of total cases has reached 34,109 with 3,892 new cases, the minister stated. In the last 24 hours, 20,203 peole were tested for Covid-19 while a total of 228,868 people have been tested so far.

The number of patients in intensive care is 1,474 with 987 intubaed patients and 1,582 people have recovered from the disease.

Minister advises DIY face masks

Koca rged citizens to stay at home unless they have to go out and to put on face masks outside. He advised people to make their own masks using non-synthetic material, such as cotton. The government previously mandated people to wear masks in communal spaces.

Regarding the complaints that private hospitals charge fees from Covid-19 patients, the minister said "the necessary actions would be taken" about those hospitals. Despite a circular by the ministry, private hospitals reportedly continue to charge fees for testing and treatment of coronavirus.

CLICK - Turkish Medical Association: Hospitals Shouldn't Charge Fees for Covid-19 Treatment

In addition to the Science Committee affiliated with the ministry, a new Social Sciences Committee has also been established, the minister also informed.

The novel coronavirus outbreak began in China's Wuhan city in December 2019. It has now spread to at least 180 countries and territories, infecting nearly 1.4 million people and killing more than 78 thousand, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University in the US. Over 290 thousand people have recovered from the disease. The US, Italy, China, Iran and Spain have been the most affected countries.

CLICK - All Updates on Turkey's Coronavirus Tally

About the novel coronavirus

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.

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.

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.

Source: World Health Organization

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