Recep Tayyip Erdogan

Turkey is producing one million protectives masks, 5,000 medical overalls and 5,000 liters of alcohol-based disinfectants every week, the country's defense minister said.

Hulusi Akar held a teleconference on Friday with commanders-in-chief of armed forces to discuss preventive measures against the coronavirus outbreak.

Residents of Turkey's largest city taking mass transit now must wear face masks to help stem the spread of the novel coronavirus, authorities said on April 3. 

"Passengers without a face mask will not be admitted on buses, metro, metrobus, or city line ferries as of tomorrow," Murat Ongun, a spokesperson for the Istanbul Municipality, said on Twitter.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on April 3 announced a partial curfew for citizens under the age of 20 starting from midnight, as part of measures against the coronavirus outbreak.

Municipalities being run by the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) will continue to deliver aid to families in need due to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak despite the blocks imposed by the government, the head of the party said, calling on the government to coordinate efforts for the sake of society during these difficult days.

Some 124 Turkish citizens living abroad have died due to COVID-19, Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu has said.

Çavuşoğlu's remarks came after attending a NATO foreign ministers' meeting.

He said more than 20,000 citizens in total have been brought back to Turkey from 50 countries.

The Turkish government will take every precaution to make the people get through the hardships caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the treasury, and finance minister has said in a video message.

"Now, we have focused on demands coming from our citizens, particularly shopkeepers and businesspeople," said Berat Albayrak in the 10-minute video posted to his Twitter account.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has sent separate letters to the prime ministers of Italy and Spain after Turkey delivered military equipment to its European allies, the two countries worst hit by the coronavirus pandemic, with condolences for the lives lost due to COVID-19.

A Turkish doctor has died after contracting coronavirus from his patient.

Dr. Cemil Taşçıoğlu, who succumbed to the disease on April 1, was a professor of Internal Medicine at Istanbul University.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency, professor Dr. Tufan Tükek, dean of Istanbul University, said Taşçıoğlu had tested positive for the virus and was being treated since March 16.

Turkish state-owned banks have started accepting applications for personal loans up to 10,000 Turkish Liras (nearly $1,500) online and via phones on April 1.

The Turkish and Russian presidents on April 1 discussed over phone ways to combat the novel coronavirus, according to an official statement.

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Vladimir Putin also discussed bilateral relations and regional issues, Turkey's Communication Directorate said.