Turkiye reports 1,661 new coronavirus cases

ISTANBUL (AA) – Turkiye registered 1,661 new coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours, according to official data released on Saturday.

The Health Ministry said 11 virus-related fatalities and 1,843 recoveries were also recorded in the same period, while 101,242 tests were done.

To stem the spread of COVID-19, Turkiye has administered more than 147.54 million vaccine doses since it launched an immunization drive in January 2021.

Over 57.82 million people have received their first jabs, while more than 53.03 million are fully vaccinated.

Last month, Turkiye lifted its longtime indoor mask mandate, except in public transportation and hospitals.

More than 516.9 million cases and over 6.25 million deaths have now been reported in at least 192 countries and regions, according to the latest figures from the US' Johns Hopkins University.

However, recent World Health Organization estimates indicate that COVID-19 killed 13.3 to 16.6 million people in 2020 and 2021, more than double the official death toll.

Most of the fatalities were in Southeast Asia, Europe, and the Americas.

The WHO figures, which were released on Thursday, include deaths associated with COVID-19 directly, due to the disease, and indirectly due to the pandemic’s impact on healthcare systems and society.