According to Ministry of Health, Turkey recorded 1.192 new corona cases on Sunday, bringing the total to 187.685. However, independent sources, such as Turkish Medical Association claim the figure is probably much higher, accusing the Ministry of Health excluding case data from 10 provinces. Turkey just instituted mandatory mask-wearing in public in all large cities, as members of state sanctioned National Science Council warn the public that rising complacency could trigger a fresh wave of infections. President Erdogan admitted on Saturday Turkey had lost some ground in its battle with the coronavirus but a focus on hygiene, masks and social distancing will protect people and help the economy rebound in the second half of the year.
This month, Ankara opened restaurants and cafes and lifted weekend stay-home orders and most intercity travel bans. But since June 1 new COVID-19 cases have doubled to nearly 1,600 per day, raising concerns of a re-emergence.
“The numbers in recent days show that we have lost our position in the fight against the epidemic,” Erdogan said in a televised address. “But we aim to remove the pandemic from our agenda by respecting the cleaning, mask and distance rules.”
As Turks have poured out into streets, parks, malls and to vacation spots, face masks were made compulsory in major cities on Thursday. On Friday new virus cases dipped to just over 1,200 with total cases at more than 185,000, the thirteenth highest https://graphics.reuters.com/CHINA-HEALTH-MAP/0100B59S39E/index.html in the world.
A separate general lockdown of several hours was imposed Saturday so students could go out to attend high school exams. Some Turks posted pictures on social media of tightly packed crowds near schools and criticised the decision to hold tests.
“Take a good look at these photos … shame,” said one on Twitter.
A week ago, Turkey’s top medical association criticised the decision to ease restrictions too soon.
Health and government officials have told Reuters a harder line on social distancing may be adopted even while they said there is no plan to slow the economy, which emerged this month from a near standstill since mid-March.
Most economists expect Turkey’s economy to contract this year.
But Erdogan said economic recovery signals have been “quite strong” since May, adding “we expect great momentum from the second half of the year.”
As Turks have poured into the streets, malls and parks or taken vacations – often without face masks – authorities have urged caution and said new cases are emerging in more rural central and southeastern provinces.
One senior government official called the new infections a “a serious problem” and said steps may be taken after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan chairs a cabinet meeting this week.
Officials told Reuters data over the next few days will be critical in deciding whether steps – such as broader enforcement of masks and social distancing – may be required for some groups or regions to avoid a second wave of infections.
“We need to ensure the implementation of these rules [on masks and social distancing] as a society. If we cannot follow them then we need to take steps to make sure people are abiding by these rules,” said Ates Kara, a member of Turkey’s advisory Science Council.
Infections this month were higher than expected due in part to the difficulty of getting the message across and to people believing the virus was “completely eliminated”, said Kara, a professor of paediatric infectious disease at Hacettepe University’s Medical School.
Erdogan needs a qucik and visible recovery in economy to improve his sagging poll numbers. So far, re-opening has not increased economic activity as much as expected, with a majority of small service establishments refraining from opening their doors, as fears of a second wave lurks in the horizon. Turkey’s consumers are yet to regain their legendary appetite, too. Recent opinion polls suggest that up to 50% of the population remains worried about infections, preferring to stay hoe and use e-shopping to procure their needs.
Reuters, Turkish Press source, Turkish Medical Association news bulletin
You can follow our English language YouTube videos @ REAL TURKEY: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKpFJB4GFiNkhmpVZQ_d9Rg
And content at Twitter: @AtillaEng
Facebook: Real Turkey Channel: https://www.facebook.com/realturkeychannel/