Minister of Health, Dr. Fahrettin Koca, delivered statements at the press conference held after the Coronavirus Scientific Committee Meeting.
Koca provided information about coronavirus response efforts: "We are getting better and better everyday. We are one step ahead of the pandemic. The data shows that we were able to contain the pandemic. However, if you ease the measures, it will turn into a false hope."
"The number of patients dropped significantly today"
Koca also offered information about the last 24 hours:
"Today, 37.535 tests were performed. And 3083 new cases were detected. So, we can see that the number of patients dropped significantly today. The total number of cases is 98.674. We have lost 117 patients within the last 24 hours. Again, this number is lower compared to yesterday.
Today, the number of patients in the ICU is 1814. 985 of them are on a ventilator. The number of intubated patients and patients in ICU has decreased considerably. With 1559 today, the total number of recovered patients reached 16.477."
Koca evaluated service, ICU and ventilator occupancy rates on a graph and said:
"As soon as the outbreak broke, we delayed the treatment of non-urgent patients. This way, we were able to prepare our hospitals for the outbreak. At that time, we reduced bed occupancy rates from 70% to 30%. The ICU occupancy rate, which was around 80%, has been reduced to 60%. Despite the pandemic, the occupancy rate is lower than even before the pandemic."
"With 2.3%, Turkey has one of the lowest mortality rates"
Koca also showed graphs on COVID-19 related mortality rates and added:
"Morality rates are 5.3% in the US, 10.5% in Spain, 13.2% in Italy, 3.5% in Germany, 13.5% in the UK, 17.3% in France, 5.5% China and 14.7% in Belgium. As you can see in the graph, Turkey has one of the lowest mortality rates with 2.3%. This proves that we can contain the disease before the symptoms progress and administer an effective treatment."
"The rate of intubated patients dropped from 58% to 10%"
Stressing that the mortality rate of patients receiving intensive care and put on ventilator were decreased thanks to early diagnosis and successful treatment, Koca added: "The number of patients in the intensive care has been on decline for the past few days. If we had not been this prepared, mortality rates would have been much higher in high-risk groups. I would like to also add that 50% of intubated cases die globally."
"8% of the cases who lost their lives are under the age of 60"
Emphasizing that no one had the luxury to say that they are immune to this disease and said: "8% of the cases who lost their lives are under the age of 60 without any underlying condition. Therefore, we cannot be too careful."
"We must strictly stick to the curfew"
"We must not do isolation and social distancing halfway. We must strictly stick to the curfew. This curfew is not a ban; it is an opportunity. The way this pandemic will progress depends on how strictly we apply measures."
"We must not consider the Ramadan as an excuse for easing measures"
Calling upon the Turkish people about the holy month of Ramadan, which will start on Friday, Koca said: "Ramadan brings about a certain liveliness. Please postpone iftars, social gatherings and Ramadan conversations until next year. Let us make sure that this holy month does not result in diseases."
© 2025 Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Health All rights reserved.
