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Measures Taken by Turkey to Stop Spreading of COVID-19

Although Turkey remained committed to its policy of voluntary self-quarantine, the soaring number of confirmed cases and fatalities around the world required President Erdoğan’s administration to activate the third phase of its emergency response plan.

The Turkish government took measures to stop new infections in line with the Turkey’s Scientific Advisory Board’s recommendations.

The government also took a series of steps to boost the healthcare system’s total capacity and improve its capabilities.

On 6 April, the President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced his administration’s decision to rapidly build two new hospitals in Istanbul.

At the same time, the Ministry of Health moved to hire an additional 32,000 medical professionals to serve a greater number of patients simultaneously. It also moved to deploy rapid test kits and conduct no less that 30,000 COVID-19 tests around the country.

At the same time, the Ministry of Health moved to hire an additional 32,000 medical professionals to serve a greater number of patients simultaneously. It also moved to deploy rapid test kits and conduct no less that 30,000 COVID-19 tests around the country.

Against the backdrop of those investments, the nation’s efforts to improve its capabilities continued without interruption:

The Turkish government banned all commercial sales of surgical masks and launched a nationwide program to deliver personal protective equipment to citizens’ residences free of charge.

The Turkish Scientific and Technological Research Council (TUBITAK) launched a COVID-19 web portal to facilitate information and experience sharing among researchers.

Customs and Trade Minister Ruhsar Pekcan announced that Turkey would lower the customs tax on select products. The Ministry also removed surgical masks from a group of products subject to a 20-percent surtax.

The Ministry of Industry and Technology facilitated the serial production of Turkish-made ventilators.

President Erdoğan personally launched the National Solidarity Campaign, a nationwide fundraising campaign, to facilitate voluntary cash transfers from wealthy citizens and corporations to low-income households, families that rely on daily earnings for their livelihood and individuals with no income.

Donating 7 months’ salary to the campaign, he encouraged parliamentarians, elected and appointed officials, political parties, as well as private citizens and the business community, to contribute to the relief effort.

In regards to the National Solidarity Campaign, the President said:

“Our goal is to provide additional support to low-income citizens, starting with individuals who rely on daily payments for their livelihood, who have been hurt by precautionary measures. With the help of social assistance and solidarity foundations at all provinces and counties, we will identify citizens in need and offer them our assistance. All in all, our ministers and our friends, who accompany the cabinet, donated a total of 5.2 million Turkish Lira. We urge all parliamentarians, local chapters of all political parties, starting with the AK Party, all mayors and bureaucrats to join this campaign.”

By 7 April, the total amount donated had surpassed ₺1.5 billion, increasing the number of households receiving cash assistance to 4.4 million.