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Turkish officials delay school reopenings as new daily COVID-19 cases remain above 1,100

Turkish health officials delayed plans to reopen schools later this month, as medical experts warn of rising infection rates throughout the country.
TOPSHOT - A school girl in her uniform stands in the corridor during the first day back at school on September 19, 2016 in Istanbul. - Turkish children returned to school for the first time since July's attempted coup -- but tens of thousands of their teachers have been sacked or suspended for suspected links to the putschists or to Kurdish rebels. (Photo by OZAN KOSE / AFP)        (Photo credit should read OZAN KOSE/AFP via Getty Images)

ISTANBUL – Turkish officials delayed plans to reopen schools this month following a Science Committee meeting Wednesday in which medical experts voiced concerns over rising coronavirus rates as daily recorded cases remain above 1,100 in the country.

Schools were scheduled to open Aug. 31, but Education Minister Ziya Selcuk said in a speech Wednesday that students would instead take online courses starting on the same date. Selcuk added private schools could begin online courses as early as Aug. 17.

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