Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his wife, Emine, have tested positive for Covid-19.
Erdogan said on Twitter that the couple had contracted the Omicron variant of the coronavirus and were experiencing mild symptoms.
“We will continue our work at home. We look forward to your prayers,” he said.
Erdogan had traveled to Ukraine on Thursday for talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky over the ongoing tensions with Russia in the area, before returning home to Turkey.
The Turkish President said he was willing to serve as a mediator and host a summit between Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Erdogan had his third dose of the coronavirus vaccine in June, he said in an interview last year.
Coronavirus cases have been on the rise in Turkey since the Omicron variant become the dominant strain in the country in January.
More than 100,000 new cases were reported Tuesday, a new record, according to government data.
At least 61% of all people in the country have received two doses of a vaccine, though authorities have been urging citizens to get booster shots — including the domestically made Turkovac vaccine.
Mild symptoms
Pro-AKP daily Sabah updated the status of the first couple late Saturday evening:
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Recep Tayyip Erdogan and first lady Emine Erdogan tested COVID-19 positive with mild symptoms, the president’s official personal Twitter account announced Saturday.
“For better or worse. I hope we overcome this disease as soon as possible together with Mr. Tayyip. We look forward to your prayers,” his 66-year-old wife, Emine Erdogan, tweeted.
The Turkish president received his third vaccine dose in June last year, whereas in January, he received his first dose publicly to encourage a nationwide vaccination campaign. He will turn 68 later in February.
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Rumors about Erdogan’s various alleged ailments frequently circulates Turkish press. Over the summer, he fell asleep during his own press conference, and looked un-well through end October, which led to wild rumors of his declining mental health. However, in the last two months Erdogan looked fit and alert. Recently, international press reported that he has been receiving medical advice from an Israeli doctor.
The doctor was identified as Prof. Itzhak Shapira, deputy director-general of Sourasky Medical Center in Tel Aviv, who is known to advise world leaders on medical issues and treatments.
As Shapiro’s specialty is cardiology, it suggests the Turkish leader is suffering from heart problems, but there is no official information to that effect. Sourasky Medical Center and Shapira would not comment on the matter.
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