ANKARA (AA) – Anadolu Agency is here with a rundown of the latest developments on the coronavirus pandemic and other news in Turkey and around the world.
- Latest developments on COVID-19 in Turkey
More than 1,200 people recovered from the novel coronavirus in Turkey in the past 24 hours, the country's health minister said Saturday.
Fahrettin Koca said recoveries from the virus have climbed to 179,492 out of 204,610 total cases, meaning there are fewer than 20,000 active cases in Turkey.
The death toll also rose to 5,206, with 20 new fatalities reported.
The number of COVID-19 tests rose to 3.58 million, with more than 48,200 new tests.
Meanwhile, Turkey has sent medical aid to nearly 140 countries to help combat the pandemic, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Saturday.
"We have sent medical equipment and supplies to 138 countries, regardless of religion, language, race, or region," he told the inauguration ceremony for a new state hospital in Istanbul.
He spoke of Turkey's exemplary efforts against the virus laid the groundwork for new opportunities in medical tourism and said: "We’re determined to make Turkey the health center of three continents," meaning Asia, Europe and Africa, with Turkey being the hub.
The health care system, growing stronger each day, will make Turkey an international hub for quality medical care, said Koca.
Speaking at the same event, Koca said the government expects the public to follow COVID-19 preventative measures more carefully during the normalization period.
- Global figures on coronavirus
The number of recoveries from COVID-19 cases across the globe passed the 6 million mark, according to data compiled by US-based John Hopkins University.
There have been more than 11.1 million confirmed cases of the virus, while the death toll exceeds 526,000.
Since originating in Wuhan, China in late 2019, the virus has spread to 188 countries and regions. Among the worst-hit countries are the US, Brazil, Russia, and India.
Cases and fatalities continued to rise in Eurasian and Central Asian countries Saturday.
In Spain, the government of Catalonia announced the county of Segria will be placed on lockdown to try to contain the spread of COVID-19.
Residents were informed of the lockdown an hour before the confinement that took effect at 12 p.m. local time (1000GMT).
Coronavirus-related deaths in Russia crossed the 10,000 mark.
With 168 fatalities registered in the last 24 hours, the tally went to 10,027, according to the emergency task force.
Amid a new surge in cases in Iran, at least five members of the newly elected parliament have contracted the disease, according to local media.
MPs Mohammad Tala Mazloomi, Syed Mohammad Mohid, Hosseinali Haji Dalegani, Ali Asgar Zaheri, and Mohammad Mehdi Zahedi tested positive for COVID-19, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported.
- Other developments
Turkey's first indigenously produced maritime missile passed its latest long-distance test launch with flying colors, the nation’s top defense industry official said Saturday.
The Atmaca missile “performed its functions perfectly, it successfully hit a target over 200 kilometers [124 miles] away and is ready to enter the [Turkish Armed Forces'] weapons inventory,” Ismail Demir, the head of Turkey’s Defense Industries Presidency, said on Twitter.
In sports news, Bayern Munich won the German Cup by beating Bayer Leverkusen 4-2 Saturday in Berlin Olympic Stadium.
The victory sealed the domestic double for Bayern, bringing home the DFB-Pokal championship for the 20th time.
With two goals, Robert Lewandowski netted a total of 51 goals this season, the greatest scoring campaign of his career.