Health Minister Fahrettin Koca called on businesses in Istanbul on Wednesday to come up with alternating shifts for its employees in a bid to halt a sharp increase in coronavirus cases across the country’s most populous city.
Speaking to reporters after a weekly meeting with the country’s Coronavirus Science Board, Koca said the biggest reason for the increasing infections in Istanbul was public transportation as millions of workers pack mass transit vehicles during rush hour, creating a perfect environment for the virus to spread further.
Urging employers to create alternative shifts to divide their employees and lessen the load on mass transit vehicles, the minister said irregular shifts would also protect businesses from losing its entire workforce in case of an outbreak.
“Where we need a solution in fighting the coronavirus outbreak is in the public transportation system,” he said.
“I’m calling on employers; do your best to introduce flexible working hours in your businesses.”
