Turkey announces additional measures against COVID-19

ANKARA (AA) - While the number of cases of coronavirus in Turkey is moving upward, the country is taking additional steps to fight the outbreak, said Turkey’s health minister on Monday.

"Turkey has new cases of coronavirus, with analyses of their samples continuing, and the numbers will be announced later today," Fahrettin Koca told a press conference in the capital Ankara.

"The number of COVID-19 labs nationwide will be boosted to 16, and diagnosis kits will be sent to all cities," he added.

Koca also announced that Turkey made additions to its flight ban list, with flights now banned to the U.K., Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Ireland, and the UAE as of 8 a.m. Tuesday (0500GMT), bringing the total number to 20.

Koca said Turkey has no coronavirus deaths yet, but it could happen, as there are patients with respiratory problems, he added.

He also said Turkey will provide protective masks and fast COVID-19 diagnosis kits to hospitals and universities free of charge.

Earlier Monday, the government announced that all bars, restaurants, cafes, wedding venues, movie theaters, and indoor children's play areas are closing.

The novel coronavirus emerged in Wuhan, China last December, and has so far spread to at least 146 countries and territories, with the World Health Organization declaring the outbreak a pandemic.

According to Worldometer, a website that compiles new case numbers, out of roughly 176,000 confirmed cases, the death toll is nearly 6,700, while more than 77,500 of them have recovered.

The current number of active cases is nearly 90,000, with 93% in mild condition, and 7% in critical condition.

Turkey yesterday announced the number of COVID-19 cases in the country at 18.

*Writing by Firdevs Bulut