Turkey's new COVID cases surpass 1,500, highest since mid-June

Turkey's daily COVID-19 cases jumped to its highest level since mid-June on Aug. 25 at 1,502. The government responded by banning circumcision feasts, henna nights and engagement parties in 14 provinces.

Tuesday August 25 2020 08:25 pm

Duvar English / Reuters

Turkey's new coronavirus cases jumped to its highest level since mid-June on Aug. 25 at 1,502, according data provided by the government, which responded by banning some celebrations in 14 provinces.

Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said on Twitter that 24 more people died from COVID-19, bringing the country's toll to 6,163. More than 261,000 people have contracted the disease in Turkey, according to the official tally.

"To decrease the number of new patients is the most important target of our struggle. Complying with the measures is a must for us to a make a contribution to this target," Koca wrote.

Bugün toplamda 6.5 milyon test sayısını geçtik. Yeni tespit edilen 1.500’den fazla hastamız var. Yeni hasta sayısını düşürmek mücadelemizin en önemli hedefi. Bu hedefe katkı için tedbirlere uyum şart. Sonunda yenilen virüs olacak. https://t.co/RVlhe7786O pic.twitter.com/8G59tKQgXN
— Dr. Fahrettin Koca (@drfahrettinkoca) August 25, 2020

New cases were last this high on June 15 - two weeks after Turkey lifted a partial lockdown - when the country logged 1,592 cases.

Meanwhile, Turkey's Interior Ministry issued a new circular on Aug. 25 and banned circumcision feasts, henna nights and engagement parties in 14 provinces as part of coronavirus measures.

In these 14 provinces, weddings parties and marriage ceremonies will be completed within one hour. Senior citizens over the age of 65 will not be allowed to partake in these parties unless they are immediate family members. The same rule will apply to all children under the age of 15.

These 14 provinces are: Adana, Ağrı, Ankara, Bursa, Çorum, Diyarbakır, Erzurum, Gaziantep, Kayseri, Konya, Mardin, Şanlıurfa, Van and Yozgat.