Turkey's COVID-19 lockdown prompted 'mass migration of infected people'

Turkey's lockdown policy prompted a mass migration of infected people from Istanbul, spreading across the country, Istanbul Medical Chamber said in a report revealed on May 4. Istanbul was the province hardest hit by the pandemic, the medical chamber said, noting that eight healthcare workers died in the city in April.

Tuesday May 04 2021 03:58 pm

Duvar English

Turkey's full lockdown restrictions started a mass migration of infected individuals from Istanbul to other parts of the country, members of the Istanbul Medical Chamber said during a May 4 press conference.

"A mass migration took place after the full closure was announced on April 26, and hundreds of thousands of people went to vacation districts, and their hometowns," the medical experts said in a report about the pandemic during the month of April.

Turkey entered a lockdown on April 29, to last until May 17, where intercity travel was banned, all but essential businesses were closed and a nationwide curfew was implemented.

Istanbul was the province hardest hit by the pandemic, the medical chamber said in the report, noting that eight healthcare workers died in the city in April.

The government has started to use the pandemic as an excuse to implement restrictions, but the nationwide lockdown will not be effective unless the "normalization" process is managed well, Istanbul Medical Chamber Board Chairwoman Prof. Pınar Saip said.