Government of Turkey

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.

Turkey's three largest metropolitan municipalities, of Ankara, Istanbul and Izmir, which are all ruled by the opposition parties, have been accused of running a "parallel state" by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as the nation fights the COVID-19 pandemic.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on April 1 slammed the Republican People's Party (CHP) municipalities for carrying out their own fundraising campaigns to help citizens during the coronavirus outbreak, accusing them of attempting to be "a state within the state."

A Turkish military aircraft carrying medical aid departed from the capital Ankara for Italy and Spain, the countries worst hit by the novel coronavirus in Europe.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has said that Turkey is sending aid to Italy and Spain, Europe's most hard-hit countries, during their fight against the novel coronavirus pandemic.

The Head of State has initiated a national solidarity campaign

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced that he is donating 7 monthly salaries to help fight COVID-19.

In doing so, the Head of State became the initiator of a national solidarity campaign, which he addressed to the nation.

Turkey's president on March 30 launched a National Solidarity Campaign to aid fight against the novel coronavirus.

Announcing the "We are self-sufficient, Turkey" campaign, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said he was donating his seven months of his salary as a way to kick start the fundraiser and added that several ministers have already joined as well.

Greece is reportedly in a heightened state of vigilance at all levels, so that in the coming period of its forced introversion to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic the conditions are not created that would allow Ankara to spring any surprises.

The Turkish health ministry on March 29 reported 1,815 new coronavirus cases, marking the country's largest daily increase in infections, and 23 additional deaths.

That raised the total number of known infections in the country to 9,217, while the death toll has reached 131, it said.

Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu on March 28 called for a stay-at-home order after coronavirus cases jumped by a third in a day.

"At this stage, it is evident that we need a comprehensive, wide and effective stay-at-home and quarantine," Kılıçdaroğlu said in a statement.