The total number of confirmed coronavirus cases surged to 34,109 as 3,892 more people tested positive for the virus in the last 24 hours, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca told a news conference in the capital Ankara following the meeting of Coronavirus Science Board.
So far, a total of 1,582 patients have recovered and been discharged from hospitals, Koca said, stressing the rise in the recovery rate.
He also said 20,023 tests were conducted on April 7, with the overall number of tests conducted so far hitting 222,868.
Turkey is currently treating 1,474 patients in intensive care units,
Koca said, and added that the occupancy rate of these units stands at 62-63% amid coronavirus outbreak.
The minister also shared maps, providing the general intensity of coronavirus infections across Turkey.
The cases have concentrated in the capital Ankara and metropolis Istanbul, as well as Izmir on the Aegean coast, the Black Sea province of Zonguldak, and northwestern Kocaeli and Sakarya provinces, Koca said.
Reiterating the importance of observing isolation, Koca stressed each city has to abide by the rules, and people must adopt them as a lifestyle.
"Mask is mandatory in workplaces and public areas. Inspections will be made occasionally," he added.
Koca underscored that the selling of masks is forbidden, including in pharmacies.
The new coronavirus also claims the lives of young people, Koca said, adding that age should not be perceived as an escape from the deadly virus.
"We achieved a decline in the rate of lung infection in our patients, and we think that starting early medication played a major role in this," he said.
Pointing out the misinformation on the high rate of death among age below 60, Koca said that the share of patients with underlying health problems under 60 is 10%.