Turkey: $82.4 million donated to combat COVID-19

By Faruk Zorlu

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey has collected 552.5 million Turkish liras ($82.4 million) so far as part of a National Solidarity Campaign to aid the fight against the novel coronavirus, according to its official website.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan launched a National Solidarity Campaign on Monday to aid the fight against the novel coronavirus, donating seven months of his salary to the initiative.

He underlined that the aim of the campaign would be to provide additional support to low-income workers who are suffering financially due to measures taken against the spread of the disease.

After first appearing in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December, the virus, officially known as COVID-19, has spread to at least 176 countries and regions.

The global death toll from the virus has hit 46,413 with 926,095 confirmed cases and 193,031 recoveries, according to U.S.-based Johns Hopkins University.

A total of 277 people in Turkey have died from the coronavirus, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca announced in a press conference.