COVID-19 in Turkey: Number of deaths on the increase

* Photo: Anadolu Agency (AA)

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As the COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted in Turkey, the number of cases has seen a considerable increase in the last few days.

While the number of daily cases was between 5 thousand and 7 thousand, it topped 8 thousand on July 20 for the first time in the last 10 days.

While 2.4 out of every 100 people tested positive for COVID-19 on July 10, this rate increased to 4.4 percent on July 20. A day later, the country saw 8,151 new cases, according to the Health Ministry.

'One-third increase in four days'

As compiled by the state-run Anadolu Agency (AA) from the Health Ministry data, 224 thousand 184 COVID-19 tests were conducted in Turkey on July 10. As 5 thousand 530 of them turned out to be positive, this finding indicated that 2.46 percent of the test results were positive.

While this rate was 2.36 percent on July 11, it was 2.37 percent on July 12, 2.68 percent on July 13 and 2.89 percent on July 14. A day later, on July 15, 3.14 out of every 100 COVID-19 tests were positive.

'Positive test results on the increase'

The rate of positive tests continued to increase: While 3.01 out of every 100 tests turned out to be positive on July 16, this rate was 3.27 percent on July 17, 3.28 percent on July 18 and 3.38 on July 19.

A day later, on July 20, 198 thousand 537 COVID-19 tests were conducted. Even though it was the lowest number of tests conducted in the last 10 days, 8 thousand 789 people tested positive for the virus.

That being the case, the rate of positive tests saw a nearly one-third increase and rose to 4.42 percent.

Deaths on the increase

According to the daily coronavirus table of the Health Ministry, 37 people died of COVID-19 in Turkey on July 10 and 11, 49 people died on July 12, 49 people died on July 13, 43 people died on July 14, 48 people died on July 15, 35 people died on July 16 and 38 people on July 17.

The highest number of fatalities was witnessed on July 18, when 66 people lost their lives. After this day, 50 people lost their lives on July 19, 49 people died on July 20 and 59 people died on July 21.

The mortality rate has increased by 24 percent in 10 days. (RT/SD)