The Turkish Medical Association (TTB) has announced that 302 healthcare workers have so far lost their lives due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

The Health Ministry has announced that Turkey’s novel coronavirus (COVID-19) death toll has risen to 20,135. While 257 people have died of the virus in the last 24 hours, the number of new cases has been announced as 15,197.

Noting that administrative bodies do not have the authority to declare a curfew in Turkey, lawyer Gökmen Yeşil says, “So, all proceedings, including the fines, are null and void. Citizens should take these fines to court.”

“Struggle for ecology is righteous and legitimate,” says the Ecology Union in response to President and ruling AKP Chair Erdoğan, who has recently called environmental activists “vandals in the disguise of environmentalists.”

Turkey’s Ministry of Interior has announced that 40,591 people have faced legal or administrative action for failing to comply with the COVID-19 curfew over the past week. The Ministry has also sent a circular about the restrictions over the New Year's.

With the law ratified, the Ministry of Interior is authorized to replace NGO executives who are prosecuted for "terrorism" charges.

A magnitude 5.3 earthquake hit Turkey’s eastern province of Elazığ yesterday morning. Releasing a statement regarding the issue, the Chamber of Civil Engineers has said, “Stop acting as if measures were taken; we have already lost so much time.”

Turkish Airlines (THY) has announced that passengers flying to Turkey will be required to submit negative COVID-19 PCR tests as of December 30 amid concerns over a global rise in case numbers and a fast-spreading new strain of the novel coronavirus.

The Health Ministry has announced that Turkey’s novel coronavirus (COVID-19) death toll has risen to 19,878. While 254 people have died of the virus in the last 24 hours, the number of new cases has been announced as 14,205.

"We, the people of the region, see the plant's pollution with the naked eye; live and understand how it poisons our lives. However, the authorities don't want to understand this situation," says a local.

Ministry of Education has announced that face-to-face exams in primary, secondary and high schools scheduled for early January will not be held amid concerns about inequalities aggravated by distance education and health risks amid COVID-19 pandemic.

The authorities in China have approved the delivery of COVID-19 vaccines to Turkey and the vaccines are set to be sent on December 27, says Health Minister Koca, adding that the vaccine has an effectiveness of 91.25 percent.