Turkey’s Health Minister Fahrettin Koca has confirmed the country’s first coronavirus case.
Speaking to reporters early on Wednesday, the minister announced that the infected individual was a Turkish man who approached a hospital late on Tuesday complaining of high fever.
However, Koca has not provided further detail on the place and the hospital.
“I want to inform you about sad but not alarming news. The test result of our citizen with suspicion of coronavirus is positive. The performance status of the patient is well. [His] family members and his all inner circle are under supervision,” the minister said at a televised press conference.
The man had contracted the virus in Europe, the minister claimed.
According to findings, the infection has been diagnosed at an early stage. Therefore, even if the virus had infected others, the number of infected people would have been very limited.
Koca reiterated his remarks on Turkey’s success in the containment of the spread of the virus while emphasizing the failure of other countries in that regard.
“We, as Turkey, have shown a very big success in the process. Neighboring and European countries have not taken as strict measures as we have done. [However,] there are inevitable results [infection] in global epidemics. If we could have cut all our contacts with the [outside] world, I would not have been in front of you [announcing the first case],” said Koca.
Besides being prepared for the outbreak, Turkey had also warned the whole world about it, Koca claimed. The ministry, as well as the state with all its units, had planned the struggle against the novel coronavirus.
“Please don’t travel abroad, unless it is [really] necessary. Follow certainly the instructions by the ministry on protection methods against the coronavirus. What we are expecting from our citizens is their support for this struggle by conforming to the 14-days rule and 14 protection methods,” Koca warned, referring to the incubation period of the virus.
The minister went on to say that a single infected patient does not mean an all-out risk. He said that a quarantined patient cannot threaten the public.
However, a social media user commented on the minister’s announcement, pointing out to his stance and voice rather than his confirmation.
“What is more frightening is the health minister’s uneasiness and his shaking voice but not his confirmation of first virus case,” read the Tweet.
Virüsün olduğunun açıklanması değil; Sağlık Bakanı'nın çok tedirgin olması ve sesinin titremesi daha korkutucu…#Corona
— Suna Varol (@SunaVarol_) March 10, 2020
Hours before the confirmation of the coronavirus case, during a parliamentary Health Committee speech, the minister had signaled that this strain of coronavirus the -Covid-19 strain – saying it had probably already arrived in the country.
Late on Tuesday, prior to the minister’s latest announcement, the General Directorate of
The virus is believed to have originated from illegal wildlife sold in China’s Wuhan province on December 12, 2019.
The outbreak has globally infected more than 113,000 people and killed over 4,000 so far, according to the latest figures by the World Health Organization (WHO).
In neighboring Iran, the latest death toll is reported as 291, with 8,042 being infected by the virus.
The post Turkey confirms first coronavirus case appeared first on IPA NEWS.
from IPA NEWS https://ipa.news/2020/03/11/turkey-confirms-first-coronavirus-case/
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