Turkey reports over 9,500 more virus cases

By Handan Kazanci

ISTANBUL (AA) - Turkey reported over 9,500 more coronavirus infections on Saturday.

A total of 9,537 new cases, including 1,103 symptomatic patients, were confirmed across the country, according to Health Ministry data.

Turkey’s overall case tally has now crossed 2.31 million, including a death toll that increased by 181 over the past day to reach 22,631.

As many as 7,902 more patients recovered in the country, taking the total past 2.19 million.

More than 26 million COVID-19 tests have been carried out in Turkey to date, with 168,289 more done over the past 24 hours.

Latest figures show that the number of COVID-19 patients in critical condition has dropped to 2,903, a point that was also underlined by Health Minister Fahrettin Koca.

"The number of cases continues to drop. The number of critical patients fell below 3,000. Restrictions and measures [against COVID-19] work," he said on Twitter.

Turkey has been implementing curfews on both weeknights and weekends since last month as part of efforts to curb infections.

Since December 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic has claimed more than 1.91 million lives in 191 countries and regions.

Over 89 million cases have been reported worldwide, with recoveries now over 49.52 million, according to figures compiled by the US' Johns Hopkins University.

The US, India, and Brazil remain the worst-hit countries in terms of cases.