“Due to the coronavirus pandemic, it has been decided that no health personnel working in all health institutions and organizations belonging to public and private sector should be allowed to leave their posts/jobs until a second announcement during the 3 months following the decision has been taken,” the statement said.

The coronavirus pandemic was confirmed to have spread to Turkey when its first case was officially confirmed on March 11. The first death due to coronavirus disease in the country occurred on March 17.

On 23 March 2020, the Minister of Health Fahrettin Koca announced that cases of coronavirus had spread all over Turkey.

According to the Health Ministry, 5,698 people have so far been infected with coronavirus in Turkey, with a death toll of 92. (ILKHA)