Turkey’s coronavirus death toll rises by 27 to 4,276, with new 952 cases

Turkey’s death toll from the coronavirus rose by 27 to total 4,276 and new confirmed cases rose by 952 to bring the country’s total to 154,500, Health Ministry data showed on May 22.

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Turkey’s death toll from the coronavirus rose by 27 to total 4,276 and new confirmed cases rose by 952 to bring the country’s total to 154,500, Health Ministry data showed on May 22.

"Despite the increasing number of tests, the number of new cases stands below 1,000. The number of patients requiring intensive care is decreasing. Our new life style is: Controlled social life, [taking] measures all together. Its condition is: Mask + a Social Distance of 1.5 meters," Health Minister Fahrettin Koca wrote on his Twitter account.

Koca said on May 20 that Turkey does not risk a second wave of infections from the virus at the moment.

“If we continue to abide by the rules of social distancing, wearing a mask and a limited social life, then we don’t see a risk of second wave,” Koca said.

“Like the rest of the world, we are also monitoring actively such a risk around September or October. But we are in a position to take necessary measures in the case of a second wave,” he said, adding that the virus reproduction rate, indicated by the R0 number, currently stands at 0.72.

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