Health Minister slams Istanbulites' Sunday outing amid COVID-19

Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca slammed Istanbulites' Sunday outing on İstiklal Avenue on Oct. 18, saying that anyone who entered the crowd healthy would come out ill. Meanwhile, some 1,815 COVID-19 diagnoses were made on Oct. 18, while some 72 patients died.

Monday October 19 2020 11:39 am

Duvar English

Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca slammed Istanbulites' Sunday outing on İstiklal Avenue on Oct. 18, saying that anyone who entered the crowd would get COVID-19.

Sharing a photo of people on the avenue, the minister urged everyone to avoid crowded spaces if possible.

BU KALABALIĞA SAĞLAM GİREN HASTA ÇIKAR. Taksim İstiklal Caddesi, bu Pazar, insanı iyimserlikten uzaklaştıran görüntülere sahne oldu. Maskesini takmış az sayıda kişi olmasa, Pandemi döneminde olduğumuz hiç akla gelmeyebilirdi. Mecburiyet olmadıkça kalabalık ortama girmeyelim. pic.twitter.com/1WCorodzSJ
— Dr. Fahrettin Koca (@drfahrettinkoca) October 18, 2020

"ANYONE WHO ENTERS THIS CROWD HEALTHY WILL COME OUT SICK. Taksim's İstiklal Avenue displayed discouraging scenes," Koca said. "You wouldn't even know it was a pandemic if there weren't many people with masks."

A total of 1,815 COVID-19 diagnoses were made on Oct. 18, while some 72 patients died.

20,232 individuals under quarantine across Turkey: Interior Ministry

Meanwhile, Turkey's Interior Ministry said on Oct. 19 that quarantine measures are in place in 34 settlements with 20,232 residents in 19 provinces.

The ministry also said that it has removed 1,064 quarantines across 70 provinces.