Turkey has not yet imposed an official quarantine, but the government does not rule out taking more radical measures if the number of coronavirus infections, which already exceed 2,400, continues to increase.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan addressed the country on Wednesday night in a televised appearance in which he addressed the crisis caused by the coronavirus outbreak, ensuring that if citizens follow the recommendations of the authorities it will be possible to stop the transmission of COVID -19 in just 2 or 3 weeks.
In his speech, Erdoğan wanted to convey confidence and calm to the public, stressing that Turkey will overcome the coronavirus outbreak “in the shortest possible time”, but insisting that people should stay home and avoid going outside, and apply the precautionary measures. Turkey has not yet imposed an official quarantine, but this week the interior minister did not rule out taking this and other measures if infections spike.
“We have made preparations for all scenarios,” said the Turkish president. “If we slow down the speed of the virus’s spread in 2 to 3 weeks, we will go through this period as soon as possible and with as little damage as possible,” Erdoğan stressed, adding that more than 53,000 people suspected of having the virus, in addition to another 8,554 in hospitals, are being monitored across the country.
In his usual appearance late in the day to report on the latest news on the epidemic, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca announced on Wednesday night that after performing some 28,000 tests the number of confirmed positives had risen to 2,433 people (561 more than the day before), while 59 deaths have been registered due to COVID-19 disease.
The minister, who had recognised for the first time the previous day that the coronavirus was being transmitted in Turkey beyond imported cases and that there were cases spread across the country, wanted to raise the tone of warning, recalling that “precautions keep us alive“. “The figures do not explain the pain of loss, or anxiety. Let’s try to live without risks,” he said.
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Pablo Gómez is a specialist in Turkey and has been editor-in-chief of Hispanatolia since 2011. He has been analysing current affairs and geopolitics in Turkey and the surrounding region since 2006.
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