Turkish health minister refutes claims that coronavirus is weakening

Turkey's Health Minister Fahrettin Koca has said that there is no scientific data showing that the coronavirus has ‘weakened’ compared to when it ripped across the globe earlier this year.

Tuesday June 09 2020 08:18 pm

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Turkey’s death toll from the coronavirus rose by 18 to total 4,729 and new confirmed cases rose by 993 to bring the country’s total to 172,114, Health Ministry data showed on June 9.

"There is no scientific data showing that the virus has weakened. What is 'normal' is precautions," Health Minister Fahrettin Koca wrote on his Twitter account.

Son 24 saatte iyileşen hasta sayımızın üçte biri kadar yeni hastamız var. Tanı konup, yatırılan hastalarımız sebebiyle yoğun bakım ve solunum desteğine ihtiyaç arttı. Virüsün etkisinin zayıfladığını gösteren bilimsel bir veri yok. “Normal” olan, tedbirdir. https://t.co/RVlhe7786O pic.twitter.com/KBs3McPCWl
— Dr. Fahrettin Koca (@drfahrettinkoca) June 9, 2020

The Health Ministry data was released shortly after President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced that the country was further relaxing coronavirus measures.

As per the rules, senior citizens will be allowed to leave their homes between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. every day, Erdoğan said.