Turkey's health minister warns against crowded military service send-off celebrations amid spike in virus cases

Turkey’s Health Minister Fahrettin Koca has once again said that society is not careful enough in complying with the coronavirus measures, giving the example of crowded send-off celebrations held for newly recruited soldiers. “Who would want their friend to start their national service having been diagnosed positive [for COVID-19]?” Koca wrote on Twitter, as Turkey registered 16 new deaths and 1,293 new infections from the virus on June 30.

Tuesday June 30 2020 11:19 pm

Duvar English

Turkey’sdeath toll from the novel coronavirus rose to 5,131, as it reported16 new fatalities, Health Ministry data showed on June 30. Accordingto test results, the total number of COVID-19 cases nationwidereached 199,906 with 1,293 new infections.

HealthMinister Fahrettin Koca wrote on Twitter that society was not puttingenough effort to control the spread of the virus.

“We are not determined enough in decreasing the case numbers and not careful enough in the measures,” Koca wrote.

Düne kıyasla entübe hasta sayımızda 7 azalma, yoğun bakım sayımızda 8 artış var. Günlük test sayılarımız yakın. Yeni vaka sayımız dünden 81 az, yeni iyileşen hasta sayısıyla yakın. Vaka sayılarını azaltmada yeterince kararlı, tedbirlerde dikkatli değiliz. https://t.co/RVlhe7786O pic.twitter.com/BF9nshPW0H
— Dr. Fahrettin Koca (@drfahrettinkoca) June 30, 2020

In a separate Tweet, Koca also warned the public against crowded celebrations that are held among friends and family members of newly recruited soldiers who are about to leave for their compulsory military service.

“Weare more and more coming across news of military service send-offceremonies which are held without complying with COVID-19 measures.Those doing send-offs in such a way are not doing a favor tothemselves or helping their friends. Who would want their friend tostart their national service having been diagnosed positive [forCOVID-19]?” Koca wrote on Twitter.

COVID-19 tedbirlerine uyulmadan yapılan ASKER UĞURLAMALARI haberlerine giderek daha fazla rastlıyoruz. Uğurlamaları bu şekilde yapanlar, kendilerine iyilik, arkadaşlarına arkadaşlık yapmıyor. Arkadaşının vatani görevine pozitif tanı konmuş olarak başlamasını, hangi arkadaş ister?
— Dr. Fahrettin Koca (@drfahrettinkoca) June 30, 2020

Turkish families usually mark the beginning of their sons' military service with celebrations that come in all different forms across the country.

While wedding-style parties including dance and music are popular in more rural areas, urban celebrations usually come in the shape of a convoy of cars.

In recent years, send-off celebrations in big cities, especially in Istanbul, have turned into occasions that interrupt traffic.

Topics Coronavirus Turkey Health Ministry Health Minister Fahrettin Koca military send-off send-off celebrations military send-off celebrations