Turkey announces first coronavirus death amid jump in cases

Turkey announces first coronavirus death amid jump in cases
Date: 18.3.2020 11:00

Minister of Health Koca says an 89-year-old died as number of cases increased in one day to 98 from 47.

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Turkey has reported its first death related to the coronavirus pandemic and announced that its confirmed cases had more than doubled to 98.
 
Minister of Health Fahrettin Koca told a news conference late on Tuesday that an 89-year-old person died after contracting the virus from someone who had "contacts with China", where the new coronavirus was first detected late last year.
 
Koca added that Turkey had diagnosed 51 more cases throughout Tuesday.
 
"The big majority of those who tested positive are recovering," he said.
 
On Wednesday, Turkey's vice president said more than 2,800 Turkish nationals were brought home at their request from nine European countries Ankara barred entry from to stem the spread of coronavirus.
 
Fuat Oktay said on Twitter that the evacuation was completed at 6am local time (03:00 GMT), adding that the 2,807 nationals will be put under 14-day quarantine in large dormitories located in the Istanbul and Kocaeli provinces.
 
Turkey last week closed its border gates to passengers from Germany, Spain, France, Austria, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Belgium and the Netherlands.
 
'No travel ban, curfew, emergency'
Meanwhile, the head of Turkey's communications directorate on Tuesday dismissed rumours that Ankara would impose of a state of emergency or curfew and travel restrictions due to the coronavirus.
 
"Such comprehensive restrictive steps are not on our agenda," Fahrettin Altun told state-run Anadolu agency.

YEREL HABERLER

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