Turkey: 3 opposition lawmakers test positive for virus

By Baris Gundogan

ANKARA (AA) – Three opposition lawmakers in Turkey tested positive for COVID-19 on Saturday, officials said.

The three are members of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), party officials confirmed without identifying the individuals.

In a statement, Hakki Saruhan Oluc and Meral Danis Bestas, deputy chairpersons of the party’s parliamentary group, said several officials were tested after a member of the office cleaning staff was found to be infected earlier this week.

They said all staff members, advisors, and lawmakers were asked to get tested.

“After initial tests, it was found that three of our lawmakers have been infected so far. They are under medical supervision and their conditions are improving,” read the statement.

Turkey’s total COVID-19 cases reached 194,511 on Friday, including 167,198 recoveries and 5,065 deaths.

The coronavirus pandemic has claimed over 495,000 lives in 188 countries and regions since last December.

The US, Brazil, Russia, and India are currently the worst-hit countries in the world.

More than 9.85 million COVID-19 cases have been reported around the world so far, with recoveries exceeding 4.97 million, according to figures compiled by the US' Johns Hopkins University.

* Writing by Fahri Aksut