Turkey's daily COVID-19 cases surpass 10,000 after big exodus out of cities for Eid al-Adha

Duvar English

Turkey's new COVID-19 cases climbed above 10,000 for the first time since mid-May on July 23 and hit a level of 11,094, according to the Health Ministry data which also showed 60 people died due to COVID-19.

"If you want tomorrow to be better than today, comply with the measures. Get vaccinated," Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said on Twitter as he released the data.

The upsurge in numbers came as millions of people have visited their families or flocked to vacation resorts for the one-week public holiday of Eid al-Adha. 

Infections remain well down from a wave in April-May when new COVID-19 cases peaked above 60,000. They fell to 4,418 on July 4 in the wake of a stringent lockdown that ended in mid-May. Most of the last restrictions were lifted this month. 

Seeking to limit the spread of the Delta variant, Turkey suspended flights from India and required COVID-19 test results within 72 hours before departure for travelers from the UK, Iran, Egypt, and Singapore.