Leading medical association calls on gov't to suspend all non-essential businesses

Duvar English

Turkish Medical Association (TTB) has called on the Family, Labor and Social Ministry to close all non-essential workplaces to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus.

The association said that the functioning of sectors involved in food production and distribution, health, agriculture and stock raising, transportation, energy, cleaning, distribution of drinking and utility water needed to continue, however still working hours of employees in these sectors should be adjusted.

“Apart from the production and service areas that have been aforementioned, others should be suspended as soon as possible and employees should be put on paid leave, for the virus not to spread any further and for the employees as well as their families not to suffer,” the TTB said in a statement on April 16.

The association also drew attention to the situation of workplace doctors in factories and other enterprises, saying they are facing a great risk of getting infected with the virus.

“As we all know, the working conditions of workplace doctors, which were not either good prior to the epidemic, have now become more difficult with the epidemic; they are facing a difficult period in terms of their rights concerning life and health,” the statement read.

The association said that many factories are failing to provide protective equipment for workplaces doctors in the face of the epidemic. “It is very important that your ministry, together with the Health Ministry, solves these problems. We would like to remind you that personal protective equipment are of vital importance and their provision is at your responsibility,” it said, calling on the ministry to convene the Occupational Safety and Health Committee to address these problems.