Turkey returns 240 nationals from W.Africa amid virus

By Izzet Taskiran and Kenan Irtak

ISTANBUL (AA) – A total of 240 Turkish nationals were repatriated Monday from the West African nations of Ivory Coast and Liberia as part of a government initiative amid the coronavirus pandemic.

A specially arranged Turkish Airlines flight landed in Istanbul.

After routine health checks, the passengers were quarantined, as safety procedures dictate, at dormitories in the northwestern Duzce and Canakkale provinces.

To date Turkey has repatriated nearly 70,000 nationals from 107 nations at the instruction of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and in coordination with the Foreign Ministry.

Ankara on Sunday reported 138,657 coronavirus cases to date, 92,691 of which have fully recovered. The death toll stands at 3,786.

More than 4.1 million cases have been reported in 187 countries since the virus emerged in China last December, with the hardest-hit areas being the US and Europe.

A significant portion of COVID-19 patients, more than 1.41 million, have recovered, but the disease has claimed more than 282,700 lives, according to data compiled by the US’ Johns Hopkins University.

*Wiring by Erdogan Cagatay Zontur