Turkey Confirms the First Case of the Coronavirus

Early on Wednesday morning, Turkey announced the country’s first case of the novel coronavirus infection. The infected man is a citizen of Turkey and he is currently isolated.

Turkey’s Health Minister Fahrettin Koca reported on the subject at a press conference in the capital city of Ankara, noting that all precautionary measures were being taken.

"A male citizen tested positive for the coronavirus in the evening. The infected individual contracted the virus after returning from Europe. He has been completely isolated.
"The patient’s general condition is good. All of his family members and those who came into contact with him are under surveillance. An early diagnosis [of the patient] was made. If there is a virus infection in the country, it is very limited. One or more cases of the coronavirus should not be considered an epidemic,” Koca noted.

The Health Minister assured the public that the country is doing the best it can to prevent the virus from spreading further.

“The coronavirus is not stronger than the measures we will take. A quarantined patient cannot threaten society. Turkey planned its fight against the coronavirus. Turkey will fight nationally against this global problem,” said the Health Minister, as reported by the Turkish news company Anadolu Agency. 

The minister also asked the population to not go abroad unless the visit was compulsory.

In an effort to keep the coronavirus entering the country, Turkey closed its border with Iran last month, also canceling all flights to the latter.

Turkey was the last neighboring country of Georgia to confirm the coronavirus case.

By Nini Dakhundaridze