Turkish health, education ministers to make joint statement on whether school break will be extended

Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca and Education Minister Ziya Selçuk will make a joint statement at 7:15 p.m. on March 25 following a meeting of the Health Ministry's Science Commission, which will discuss the issue of whether to extend the school break or not. A day earlier, Erdoğan said that they should act in accordance with the recommendations of the Science Commission.

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Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca and Education Minister Ziya Selçuk will make a joint statement on whether the school break declared over the coronavirus outbreak will be extended at 7:15 p.m. on March 25.

The joint press briefing will be held after a meeting of the Health Ministry's Science Commission, which will discuss the issue of whether to extend the break or not.

Turkey's shuts schools, universities over coronavirusTurkey's shuts schools, universities over coronavirus

Turkey reported its first coronavirus case on March 11, which was followed by the country shutting schools and universities as part of its struggle against the virus.

The break, which was planned to last for two weeks with remote education being provided in the second week, is set to end this week, prompting authorities to consult the Science Commission whether it should continue.

On March 24, Koca said that the death toll from the coronavirus increased by seven to 44 as the number of confirmed cases rose by 343 to 1,872.

Also on the same day, Selçuk and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan discussed the subject in a phone call, with Erdoğan saying that they should act in accordance with the recommendations of the Science Commission.