Turkey to receive test kit for coronavirus soon

Aynur Tekin - Duvar

Turkey will receive a test kit for the deadly coronavirus in the upcoming days, a professor has said, adding that it will used for the patients suspected of having been infected with the novel virus.

The kit, which was developed by scientists as part of the international efforts to determine the structure of the virus, includes special tests and is currently being used in China, where the outbreak that claimed the lives of over 300 people began.

"It's important to diagnose and quarantine the patient quickly," Prof. Önder Ergönül from Koç University told Duvar, adding that the tests in the kit will be used in reference hospitals.

42 evacuees land in Turkey from China

With dozens of evacuees aboard, a military cargo plane of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) landed in Turkey's capital Ankara on Feb. 1 upon completing its evacuation operation from China's Wuhan city, the epicenter of the virus outbreak.

The A400M type cargo plane departed from Wuhan on Feb. 1 airlifting 42 people with 32 Turkish citizens, along with the citizens of Azerbaijan, Albania and Georgia after health staff confirmed they did not carry any symptoms related to the fatal outbreak.

Debate erupts over presence of coronavirus in Turkey

Passengers' health conditions are said to be in good condition and their oxygen levels, as well as body temperature, are normal, officials told state-run Anadolu Agency reporter on board.

All of the patients, including 32 Turks, six Azerbaijanis, three Georgians and one Albanian, boarded the plane after they were found not to show coronavirus symptoms in initial examinations, Health Ministry said before the evacuation operation.

Evacuees, who were taken to Zekai Tahir Burak Hospital, will be quarantined for 14 days in single rooms in line with a coronavirus incubation period.

Since its outbreak late last year, China has put Wuhan under lockdown in a bid to contain the virus and is building a 1,000-bed hospital to treat those affected.

Beyond China, the virus has spread to Japan, South Korea, Thailand, the U.S., Singapore, France, Vietnam, and Canada.

Travelers from China are being screened for the virus at airports worldwide. Several airlines have suspended flights to Wuhan.

China buying back medical masks from Turkey, opposition MP claims

No cases of coronavirus have been found so far in Turkey, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said.

Koca was also on the tarmac when the plane landed in Ankara and said that Turkey would leave none of its nationals behind, no matter where they were.

The minister added that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan followed the operation and called to be briefed on the passengers' state of health.