ISTANBUL, Mar 31 (NNN-ANADOLU) – Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said, a total of 39 locations across the country are put under quarantine, due to the rising number of confirmed cases of COVID-19.
“Currently, 39 villages and neighbourhoods across the country are under quarantine,” Erdogan said, at a televised address to the nation.
He once again urged Turkish people to perform personal quarantines, to help curb the fast-growing spread of the virus.
“The more our citizens stay at home, through voluntary quarantines, the shorter the process of returning our lives to normal,” he said.
The president explained, the reason behind the Turkish government not declaring a nationwide curfew is, to ensure the continuity of production, to support export and the supply of basic needs.
He urged companies that would continue production, to take necessary precautions, to protect the health of their employees.
Meanwhile, he noted that Turkey is opening new hospitals, while strengthening the existing ones, in line with the requirements of the outbreak of COVID-19.
“We are planning to open our Ikitelli City Hospital in Istanbul in May, with a bed capacity of 2,682,” he said, noting that, Goztepe City Hospital, with 1,000-bed capacity, will be one of the most modern hospitals in the country, when completed in Sept.
Erdogan also launched a National Solidarity Campaign, to collect money for those who are passing through a difficult time, due to the outbreak.
“I am inaugurating the campaign personally by donating my salary of this month,” he said.
The Turkish leader also noted that Turkey would send some aid supplies to Spain, within a few days.
“Similarly, through the Turkish Red Crescent, we shipped some relief materials to Italy, which was also going through a troubled period,” Erdogan said.
The death toll from the virus in Turkey climbed to 168, and the confirmed cases totaled 10,827 on Monday, according to the latest figures of the Health Ministry.– NNN-ANADOLU
