According to the Turkish Minister of Health, the number of detected cases of infection has risen to 65,111 in and the number of deaths has increased by 107 cases to 1403.

Anyone who contradicts the official figures in Turkey or criticizes the government's actions get arrested or lose their job. Most recently, an employee of Halk Bank was dismissed because he drew attention to the lack of preventive measures at his workplace. Disciplinary sanctions have been imposed on prisoners who have spoken out to relatives about their situation.

Dr Margaret Harris of the World Health Organization (WHO) reported on the global pandemic situation at a press conference in Geneva. She said the spread of the virus has slowed in countries such as Italy and Spain, but accelerated in Turkey and England.

Prisons

In prisons in Turkey, the danger from the coronavirus is growing. Late Monday evening, the Turkish parliament passed the controversial new enforcement law. The change in the law, called the "Corona Amnesty", provides for the release of about 90,000 of the approximately 295,000 prisoners in Turkey. Some of them are to be released prematurely from prison, while others will be placed under house arrest. For numerous prisoners, the prison sentence will be halved. The political prisoners accused or sentenced under Turkey's controversial anti-terrorism laws are, however, explicitly excluded by the amendment to the law which was presented by the governing coalition AKP/MHP.

Solidarity campaign of the HDP

The HDP and the municipalities it runs are continuing their work in connection with the pandemic despite state obstruction. Solidarity networks are taking care of destitute and needy persons. To this end, the HDP has launched a twin family campaign to support the people in financial need. In Kurdistan, many people are employed in the informal sector and depend on their daily income.

The municipality of Çınar yesterday distributed 10,000 face masks, gloves and hand disinfectants. The streets and official enterprises in the district are disinfected daily.

Workers

The Platform of Workers Unions in Istanbul (İİSŞP) released a report based on observations at Tuzla shipyards in the city. According to the report, around 20,000 workers are working in Tuzla shipyards and 53 of them have tested positive for Covid-19.

More healthcare professionals infected in Amed

Two healthcare workers at Dicle University Medical Faculty as well as a doctor and a nurse at Silvan Public Hospital have reportedly contracted Coronavirus.

So far, 26 medical staff have been confirmed infected and one is reported to be in life-threatening condition.

At least 20 people have died of Coronavirus in Amed so far.

227 settlements quarantined

According to Turkish Interior Ministry, as many as 227 settlements in 58 cities are quarantined as part of measures to contain the spread of Coronavirus. These settlements include 5 districts, 6 towns, 85 neighborhoods, 115 villages and 16 hamlets.

TTB: Healthcare personnel die due to lack of equipment

The chairman of the Turkish Medical Association, Sinan Adıyaman, said at a press conference on Wednesday that healthcare staff are losing their lives due to lack of medical equipment.

Adıyaman said that protection of the health of medical staff is vital to combat the pandemic and criticized the Turkish Ministry of Health for not being prepared to battle the pandemic in terms of protective equipment stock and management. He remarked that the lack of protective equipment has led to the infection of numerous healthcare professionals from family health centers to emergency services of hospitals.

The head of TTB called for transparency in the battle against pandemic and said this was essential for a succesful management of the crisis. He noted that the Ministry of Health does not use the international diagnosis codes proposed by the World Health Organization for Coronavirus.

SES: The ministry puts the lives of healthcare staff on the line

The Union of Health and Social Service Workers (SES) released a report on Tuesday and warned that the Ministry of Health put the lives of healthcare staff on the line.

SES said the ministry provided no information on the number of infected medical staff, urging authorities to share such information with SES, TTB and other relevant organisations.

SES also criticised the lack of medical equipment and highlighted the importance of health of medical staff in the battle against the pandemic, noting that medical personnel are not tested regularly.

The union also called for stricter measures and suspension of nonobligatory production.