PodcastMass wake ceremony in southeastern Turkey leads to jump in COVID-19 cases
A mass wake gathering in the southeastern province of Van led to a jump in the number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases. Van Governor Mehmet Emin Bilmez said that the number of coronavirus cases jumped to 51 in the Ortanca neighborhood, while also urging Van residents to refrain from holding funeral ceremonies. "Report those doing so to police or the gendarmerie for your and social health," Bilmez said.
Duvar English
A mass wake ceremony held in the southeastern province of Van has led to a spike in the number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases due to the violation of social distancing rules, the city's governor said on May 8.
Van Governor Mehmet Emin Bilmez said that the number of coronavirus cases jumped to 51 in the Ortanca neighborhood because of the wake organization of the Eraygen family, who accepted visitors who wanted to offer their condolences for the loss of a family member.
"Please don't organize wake ceremonies. Report those doing so to police or the gendarmerie for your and social health," Bilmez said in a tweet.
Değerli Hemşehrilerim
— Mehmet Emin Bilmez (@valibilmez) May 8, 2020
Ortanca Mahallesi'ndeki taziye kaynaklı vaka sayımız 51 oldu.
Lütfen taziye ziyaretleri düzenlemeyelim!
Hem bireysel hemde toplumsal sağlığımız için taziye kuranları;
1️⃣5️⃣5️⃣ Polis
1️⃣5️⃣6️⃣ Jandarma
? hatlarına ihbar edelim.#BirlikteBasaracagiz
Some 23 members of the Eraygen family were diagnosed with COVID-19 following the wake along with some 20 others from nearby neighborhoods, although not all were locals.
"The city center is high risk right now because a lot of people joined the wake in Ortanca neighborhood, including public servants and downtown Van residents," the governor's office said in an official statement.
Those infected, along with anyone who participated in the wake, are suspected to have come into contact with many others, the governor's office noted.
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The Ortanca neighborhood was placed under quarantine following the wake.
Some six public servants who attended the wake were fined and the elected neighborhood leader was removed from his post for allowing the tent for the wake to be set up.
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