Turkey brings in more stringent virus measures as death toll rises to 30

The Turkish government has been extending its measures against the novel coronavirus outbreak, from suspended flights and limited work hours to more stringent disinfection works, as the death toll increased to 30 on March 22 with a total of 1,236 cases.

Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said late on March 22 that the death toll from coronavirus increased by nine to 30, and the number of confirmed cases rose by 289. The number of confirmed cases reached 1,236 as of March 22 evening.

Koca said that a total of 20,345 tests to detect the coronavirus cases had been carried out.

On March 11, Turkey became the last major economy to report a case of the coronavirus.

The Turkish government has been implementing strict measures since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, from flight bans to schools temporarily closing.

More than 11,000 people quarantined

Youth and Sports Minister Mehmet Kasapoğlu said on March 23 that more than 11,000 people who arrived in Turkey from abroad have been quarantined in 36 dormitories across 23 provinces

"Our dormitories, which have been home to brilliant children of our country, are now hosting our guests from abroad," Kasapoğlu tweeted.

Istanbul is currently hosting 1,955 people, Ankara 3,058, Konya 2,180, Kocaeli 891 and Isparta 586, he said, noting that the quarantined people will be closely monitored for symptoms of coronavirus.

Turkish Airlines halts all int'l flights, except five destinations

Turkish Airlines will halt all its international flights as of March 27, except those to Hong Kong, Moscow, Ethiopia, New York, and Washington, its CEO said on March 22.

Cargo flights and domestic flights...