There are over four million confirmed infections with the novel coronavirus worldwide. Almost 300,000 people have died of the lung disease COVID-19. The situation in Turkey and Kurdistan also looks bad. According to the Turkish Minister of Health, there are 138,657 confirmed cases of infection and 3,768 deaths. The numbers are rising daily, but nevertheless, since today, there is some easing and there is talk of the beginning of a "normalization phase". As of Monday, hairdressers, restaurants and shopping centres have reopened in Turkey under the condition of the distance rule.

Actual case numbers up to five times higher

Dr. Halis Yerlikaya, member of the Central Council of the Turkish Medical Association (TTB), spoke to ANF in Amed (Diyarbakir) about the relaxation of protective measures in the pandemic. He says that the number of actual cases of infection is much higher than the number reported by the Ministry of Health every evening in the social media. Compared to the official figures, the data collected by the medical association is four to five times higher, he said. Measured by the number of infection cases, Turkey ranks seventh in the world: "In terms of deaths, Turkey is in the twelfth place. These data show that the process is not very successful. The normalization phase must be based on these data. According to our observations the danger associated with the disease is still very high both in the [Kurdish] region and in Turkey as a whole. The relaxation has clearly been decided too early and we expect serious consequences.

No transparency in data collection

The fight against the pandemic cannot be determined by political and economic concerns, Dr. Yerlikaya says and continues: "In pandemics, action must be based on epidemiological data. In addition, data collection must be transparent. For example, we tell the Ministry of Health how many infections and deaths there are in which age groups in the various provinces, but this information is not passed on to the scientific committee.

Shopping malls indispensable?

Dr. Yerlikaya thinks the "normalization phase" is dangerous: "You have to imagine: First on the agenda is the reopening of shopping malls. The supply of the people with food and other urgent needs is guaranteed anyway. As is well known, shopping centers are not indispensable spaces for the needs of society. In our opinion, the reopening is not based on scientific data, but on economic considerations. We think that normalization can only take place if social health is protected in the process. However, the government has wanted to write a success story right from the start. If there is a real success at the moment, it is due to the health workers and professionals in the hospitals."

600 cases of infection in Amed

According to Dr. Yerlikaya, about 600 infections have been detected in Amed so far, 45 people have died of the coronavirus: "Among those who tested positive are 90 employees from the health sector. We lost two of them. Overall, the number of cases is decreasing, but this must not lead to carelessness. The pandemic continues and new cases are appearing every day."