Turkish public growing more pessimistic about returning to normalcy

The Turkish public has grown more pessimistic about a return to normalcy, with only around 20 percent believing that the COVID-19 outbreak would be over within a year, a survey commissioned by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has shown.

In a survey conducted in May 2020, the number of people who believed the country would put the outbreak behind in a year stood at as much as 64 percent.

But the January survey showed that people have become less optimistic about the prospects, with only 24 percent having said the outbreak would be over within a year.

More strikingly, 48 percent of those surveyed declared that they would not get the COVID-19 vaccine while the number of people who voiced trust in the Health Ministry and other state institutions handling of the outbreak dropped to 40 percent in January from 73 percent in May 2020.

Turkey's vaccination program began on Jan. 14. To date, nearly 2.7 million people, mostly health care professionals and the elderly, have received the first shot of the injection developed by the Chinese firm Sinovac. Health care staff are expected to get their second dose of the vaccine starting on Feb. 11.

More people are now reporting that their relatives or acquaintances have contracted the virus. One out of two those surveyed someone from their circle have had COVID-19, marking the highest figure. Some 42 of those who reported such cases live in western provinces while 64 percent reside in the eastern provinces. Expert said people in the eastern provinces appear to adhere to the virus less than those that live in the western part of the country.

The survey also showed that people are suffering from sleep disorder and headache during the pandemic. Nearly 20...