Turkey's coronavirus death toll rises above 500

Duvar English

Confirmed coronavirus cases in Turkey rose by more than 3,000 to 23,934 on April 4 with deaths related to COVID-19 rising by 76 to 501 people, Heath Minister Fahrettin Koca said on Twitter.

In the last 24 hours, 19,664 tests were conducted bringing the total performed in Turkey so far to 161,380, Koca said.

"Of the 161,380 tests conducted so far, 12.8 percent have been run in the last 24 hours. There has been a significant rise in the number of patients who have recovered. The number of patients who have recovered rose to 786 from 484 yesterday," he wrote.

Bugüne kadar yapılan 161.380 testin %12,18’i son 24 saat içinde gerçekleşti. İyileşen hasta sayımızda önemli artış oldu. Dün toplam 484 olan iyileşen hasta sayımız bugün 786’ya ulaştı. Virüs gücünü temas ortamından alıyor. Virüse bu fırsatı tanımayalım.https://t.co/RVlhe7786O pic.twitter.com/HHC6gg5NRn

— Dr. Fahrettin Koca (@drfahrettinkoca) April 4, 2020

Some 1,311 patients are currently under intensive care units, Koca also said. 

Turkey confirmed its first case of the coronavirus early on March 11.

Since then, the government has taken a series of precautions against the spread of the virus, including halting both international and domestic flights, shutting schools, bars and cafes and suspending mass prayers and sports fixtures. But it has stopped short of announcing a full lockdown in an effort to cushion the economic disruption.

Turkey imposes curfew for youth, makes mask usage obligatory in public places

On April 3, the government declared a curfew for people younger than 20 years of age. The government also decided to shut down the borders of 31 cities, including Istanbul, for all vehicles, excluding transit passage and essential supplies such as food, medical and sanitary products, to contain the disease.

“We have decided to bring partial curfew into effect for people under the age of 20 as of midnight Friday,” President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan told a news conference on April 3.

“The shutdown of city borders will be in effect for 15 days initially, however this period can be extended if necessary,” he said.

In March, Turkey ordered elderly citizens, over 65, and those with chronic diseases to stay at home.