Coronavirus

Prisoners’ rights violations compounded by COVID-19 pandemic, say Turkish rights groups Various rights groups have said that human rights violations recorded in prisons have spiked during the COVID-19 outbreak. As a recent example of the rights violation, the groups said that authorities had confiscated several personal belongings of a group of inmates during their transfer to two newly opened Diyarbakır prisons.

Medical chambers stand by Turkish Medical Association amid attacks from gov’t Some 40 medical chambers affiliated with the Turkish Medical Association (TTB) have released a joint statement reiterating their support for the organization. “We are fortunate to have our professional organization that prioritizes and defends the right of public health, and does not compromise when it comes to scientific and free thinking," the chambers said, following MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli's call for the TTB's closure.

Turkish musicians launch online campaign to draw attention to ailing sector due to COVID-19 Turkish musicians have launched a campaign on social media with the hashtag of #MüziğeSesVer (which translates as “Give voice to music”) to raise awareness on the devastating impact of the COVID-19 on the whole music chain. “It is impossible for the sector to recover from the current financial damage through its own efforts," said a statement issued by the campaign organizers.

Erdoğan ally calls for closure of top medial association for protesting increasing COVID-19 infections Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli has called for the closure of the Turkish Medical Association (TTB) after the organization has this week launched a series of protest events, accusing the government of mismanaging the COVID-19 pandemic. In the face of Bahçeli's remarks, messages of support poured in from Twitter users for the TTB, with the hashtag campaign of "#İyikiTTBvar" (which translates as "So glad we have TTB") going viral.

Turkey experiencing acceleration in contagion of COVID-19 in last two months: Health Minister Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca has said that the coronavirus contagion in the country has been accelerating for the last two months. “Today, both we and the world are in a more difficult phase of COVID-19 than at the beginning of the pandemic," Koca said, indicating that the “burden” on the Turkish healthcare staff has increased by 4-5 times compared to the initial phase of the pandemic.

COVID-19 spread started to pick up pace in Istanbul, warns dean of Çapa Medical Faculty The spread of the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19 once again started to pick up pace in Istanbul, said the dean of Istanbul's University's well-known Çapa Medical Faculty. “We can say that as of today, the pandemic has restarted for Istanbul. Most of them [of the cases] are young people, and unfortunately the pneumonia rate is high," Prof. Dr. Tufan Tüfek wrote on Twitter on Sept. 14

Main opposition CHP spokesperson tests positive for COVID-19 Turkey's main opposition CHP spokesperson Faik Öztrak announced on Sept. 9 that he contracted the COVID-19. Öztrak, 66, said that he is in good health and entered home quarantine.

Turkish Cyprus temporarily halts flights from Turkey due to recent COVID-19 spike The breakaway Turkish Cyprus has announced that it suspended flights from Turkey from Sept. 9 evening until Sept. 13 evening, with the exception of emergency flights as well as military and medical planes.

Istanbul governor’s office announces new measures for public transport amid COVID-19 outbreak Istanbul's governor office announced on Sept. 9 that only a limited number of standing passengers be allowed on public transport vehicles amid the novel coronavirus outbreak. The new rules came after the Interior Ministry on Sept. 8 sent a circular to all adminsitrations to monitor compliance with the COVID-19 measures.

Erdoğan: Reopening of schools to begin with preschool, first-grade students President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has announced that the reopening of schools on Sept. 21 will begin with preschool and first-grade students. “This implementation can show difference depending on the city, due to the course of the epidemic,” Erdoğan said on Sept. 7.

Authorities quarantine two Mardin neighborhoods, cite ‘circulation of seasonal workers’ The governor's office of Mardin's Mazıdağı district has announced that two neighborhoods in the district were placed under COVID-19 quarantine. The governor's office said that the “circulation of seasonal workers” has been recently high in these two neighborhoods.

Footballers are being tested for coronavirus more than doctors, says Kocaeli Medical Chamber Kocaeli Medical Chamber chairman Ömer Ardaman has said it is extremely worrying that football players are being tested for COVID-19 more frequently than medical workers. "You are even conducting tests twice a week on football players that are not coming into contact with patients but you are not testing healthcare workers, this is an extreme situation,” Ardaman said.

Istanbul governor to COVID-19 patients: For God’s sake, do not go out outside Istanbul Governor Ali Yerlikaya has urged COVID-19 patients who are self-isolating at home not to leave their houses under any circumstance. Yerlikaya said that local governor's offices have been meeting the needs of these patients in every way possible. Those who do not comply with the quarantine rules are imposed an administrative fine and also face criminal charges, the governor said.