Turkey's daily COVID-19 cases hit all time high of nearly 50,000

Turkey on April 6 reported nearly 50,000 new coronavirus cases, the Health Ministry said, the highest single-day spike in the country since the beginning of the outbreak. Cases have soared since the government eased measures to curb the pandemic in early March.

Wednesday April 07 2021 12:01 am

People are seen walking on Istanbul's famous İstiklal Avenue in this March 15-dated photo.

Reuters - Duvar English

Turkey on April 6 recorded 49,584 new coronavirus cases, Health Ministry data showed, the highest level since the start of the pandemic.

The latest daily death toll was 211, the highest since early January, bringing the cumulative toll to 32,667.

Cases have soared since the government eased measures to curb the pandemic in early March.

Last week, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced a tightening of measures, including the return of full nationwide weekend lockdowns for the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan, which starts on April 13.

Experts agree that Turkey has entered a third peak of the pandemic following Ankara's relaxing of measures in early March, and the government's mismanagement of restrictions is often cited as the primary cause.

The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) came under fire particularly after holding both provincial congresses and a national meeting prior to the spike in cases, and Erdoğan boasted about filling up spaces "to the brim."