Sema Kultufan Turan

As COVID-19 cases are seen most among young people, the Turkish Health Ministry is expanding its efforts and seeking cooperation with YouTube influencers to encourage the youth to get their jabs and eliminate vaccine skepticism in the country.

With the number of daily infections across the country soaring over 16,000, Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca has warned that the rise in new coronavirus cases is making it difficult to bring the pandemic under control.

The COVID-19 outbreak worsened within a week across Turkey, leaving only one province in the low-risk category.

According to the weekly cases' data for March 13 and March 19, the number of provinces classified as high-risk increased to 39 from the previous week's 25.

Provinces in Turkey classified under low and medium risk groups will be the first ones to be allowed to start easing COVID-19-related restrictions as the country is preparing to return to normal life in March.

The country's 81 provinces will be categorized as low, medium, high and very high risk based on infection rates and the vaccination process as well as other criteria.

Vaccinations against the COVID-19 in Turkey have proved to be effective, experts have said, noting that fewer people are now applying to hospitals as a result of the inoculations.

Turkey rolled out its massive vaccination program on Jan. 14. Nearly 5.9 million people have been administered the jab since then, mostly health care workers and the elderly.

The number of coronavirus cases in Turkey has been decreasing since the introduction of weekday night curfews and weekend lockdowns, but officials are urging citizens to remain vigilant as the New Year's holiday approaches.

The recent spike in the number of daily confirmed COVID-19 cases in Turkey prompted Health Minister Fahrettin Koca to issue yet another warning to the public that the outbreak is far from over.

"The figures [from June 13] made us face the reality that the outbreak remains a serious matter," Koca said on Twitter on June 14.

Some 4,000 Turkish doctors and 11,000 medical personnel in Ankara's "pandemic towers" have been working non-stop to treat COVID-19 patients in the capital.