Turkey reports over 32,000 new COVID-19 infections

By Merve Berker and Jeyhun Aliyev

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey reported 32,137 more coronavirus infections, including 6,420 symptomatic patients, over the past 24 hours, according to the Health Ministry data released Monday.

As many as 5,017 patients recovered in the last day, bringing the tally to 436,270, while the death toll rose to 15,103, with 203 additions.

Across the country, 196,902 COVID-19 tests were conducted, pushing the total to over 19.88 million.

The number of patients in critical condition now stands at 5,836, though the rate of increase in severe cases is declining.

"The protective measures and restrictions implemented in Turkey have slowed down the rise in the number of COVID-19 patients in critical condition across the country," Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said on Twitter.

"We hope we'll feel [effect of protective measures] more soon. Our duty is to stay out of the crowd by enforcing our own restrictions," he added.

Turkey on Monday shortened the quarantine requirement for contact with a novel coronavirus case to 10 days from the previous 14.

"People who had close contact stay in quarantine for 10 days. Quarantine of people who do not develop any symptoms during the quarantine period ends at the end of the 10th day without conducting a PCR test, but these people will continue taking the necessary precautions in public spaces," said the Health Ministry statement.

The COVID-19 pandemic has claimed nearly 1.54 million lives in 191 countries and regions since last December.

Over 67.25 million cases have been reported worldwide, with more than 43.23 million recoveries, according to figures compiled by the US' Johns Hopkins University.

While the US, India, and Brazil remain the worst-hit countries in terms of the number of cases, Europe is in the grip of a devastating second wave of infections.