Total COVID-19 cases spiked to its highest in Turkey since December

The spread of COVID-19 cases in Turkey increased, after the government gradually eased the restrictions in the beginning of March.

New infections totalled 14,941 on Friday, the most on a daily basis since December, the Health Ministry’s data showed.

On March 1, the authorities announced a gradual end for COVID-19 restrictions, including lifting weekend lockdowns in cities deemed at low and medium risk. Cities in high and very high-risk categories will continue to implement lockdowns on weekdays and on Saturdays.   

Health Minister Fahrettin Koca on Wednesday said the mutant COVID-19 variants has increased, meaning the country must be extra cautious in confronting the illness.

According to health ministry data, COVID-19 related deaths increased by 66 to 29,356 on March 12 and the total number of confirmed cases reached 2,850,930.