UPDATE - Turkish leader hails 'healthcare army' fighting virus

UPDATES WITH DETAILS

By Guc Gonel

ISTANBUL (AA) - Turkey’s president on Wednesday praised the nation’s “healthcare army” of nearly half a million medical staff and 360,000 support personnel fighting the coronavirus outbreak.

“No virus, no outbreak is stronger than Turkey,” said Recep Tayyip Erdogan in a letter addressed to the Turkish people who are older than 65 and restricted from leaving their homes due to pandemic.

On Wednesday, Turkey began distributing face masks and cologne, a traditional ethanol-based scented disinfectant, for people in the risk groups, including 65-year-plus and people suffering from chronic illnesses.

The letter was included in packages of hygiene kit sent to Turkish citizens.

Turkey is one of the countries best prepared for the outbreak thanks to civil service reforms made over the last 18 years, he said, referring to the period his Justice and Development (AK) Party has been in power.

“We’re engaged in a national fight against coronavirus, which became a pandemic,” he added.

Coronavirus has infected 34,109 people in Turkey so far, causing 725 deaths, while 1,582 people have recovered.

Since the virus emerged last December in the Chinese city of Wuhan, it has spread to at least 184 countries and regions.

There are more than 1.44 million confirmed cases worldwide, with over 83,400 deaths, and nearly 308,150 recoveries, according to the U.S.’ Johns Hopkins University.