Science Board

Istanbul, Turkey's most populous province with nearly 16 million residents, may still have a long way ahead before risks from the coronavirus disappear as at least 67 percent of its population should develop immunity against the disease, according to experts.

Turkey's Science Board is examining the possible effects of hydroxychloroquine on COVID-19 patients in the face of claims that the drug may cause some complications, Professor Ahmet Demircan, a member of the board, has said.

Inter-city travel restrictions introduced in early April as part of wide-ranging measures to arrest the spread of the coronavirus may be abolished next month, Hürriyet daily has reported.

Measures that have been taken so far to prevent the spread of the coronavirus are yielding results, experts from the Health Ministry's Coronavirus Science Board have said, warning that people must avoid physical contact during Eid al-Fitr not to compromise the gains in the fight against COVID-19.

A heatwave is expected to hit Turkey starting Friday until next Tuesday, the general directorate of meteorological service has warned. 

The members of the Health Ministry's Coronavirus Science Board have announced that the rate of transmission up to 5 in the world has fallen below 1 in Turkey, while stressing on the necessity to carry on with the measures.

The main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) has proposed the government to suspend the curfew for those aged between 15 and 20 on May 19 National Youth and Sports Day.

Speaking at a press conference on May 12, CHP group deputy Engin Altay said allowing young people on May 20-21, but not on May 19 means undermining the importance of the national day.

Turkey is planning to run tests on up to 150,000 people across the country to see the extent of the spread of the coronavirus, the health minister has said.

As of May 6, Turkey has carried out well over 1.2 million tests while the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has climbed to nearly 132,000. The death toll from the outbreak has exceeded 3,500.

Turkey has completed the first phase of its struggle against the novel coronavirus, the country's health minister said on
May 6. 

The results of efforts to counter the virus, as well as success in diagnosis and treatment in the country, prove that Turkey has the pandemic under control, Fahrettin Koca told reporters after a Science Board Meeting.

The Turkish government has decided to bring forward the nationwide university admission exams of this year to an earlier date in late June than scheduled as part of COVID-19 measures, drawing reaction on social media, as youngsters launched the hashtag #SandiktaGorusuruz (We'll see you at the ballot box) late May 4 on Twitter.