The health ministry continues to fight the new coronavirus (Covid-19) that has emerged in Wuhan, Hubey province of China and killed 3,398 people worldwide, so far.
In this context, the Ministry of Health initiated thermal cameras and quarantine at airports before the World Health Organization declared a state of emergency against the new type of Coronavirus outbreak and halted flights to high-risk countries where the virus was seen, closing land borders with Iran and Iraq.
Moreover, the Ministry of Health also established field hospitals in the border regions and started a 14-day quarantine and observation process for those entering Turkey from countries where the virus is seen, in accordance with the recommendations of the Science Board.
Turkish citizens in countries such as China and Iran where the virus was been seen have been brought to Turkey, in line with the demands. Turkish citizens brought from abroad were quarantined in designated hospitals for 14 days and measures were applied against possible illness.
Measures taken by the ministry were supported with the decision that those who had been in Iran, China, Italy, Iraq, South Korea in the last 14 days would be regarded as “on leave, with report” for 14 days from the date of entry to Turkey, in case of application.
These measures, initiated and taken before the World Health Organization's suggestions, have caught attention of the world.
The fight against the coronavirus outbreak, which has been successfully carried out in Turkey, is being closely followed by many countries. In this context, some countries have requested joint work through their ministries of Health and their embassies in Ankara, based on sharing information and experience, and supply of materials.
Among said 26 countries are Albania, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, the people's Republic of China, Great Britain, United States, Montenegro, Iran, Iraq, the Republic of Korea, Libya, Lebanon, Kyrgyzstan, Colombia, Italy, Kosovo, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Mongolia, Moldova, Djibouti, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Qatar, Kuwait, Vietnam and Tajikistan.
On the other hand it is reported that a domestic diagnostic kit for Covid-19 (new type coronavirus) has been developed by the Department of Health. The diagnostic kit developed for Covid-19, was produced with local sources and provides results between 90-120 minutes.
For the domestic kit, which prevents waste of resources and provides quick results in the detection of the virus, 7 countries have contacted the International Health Services Joint Stock Company (USHAS), which is affiliated to the Ministry of health.
