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Turkey considers new restrictions as infections rise

New COVID-19 cases and death rates in Turkey have returned to levels not seen since May, prompting officials to consider tighter restrictions following a partial reopening of public schools.
ISTANBUL, TURKEY - SEPTEMBER 21: First grade students wearing protective face masks line up to have their temperature taken before entering the school building at the Florya Ugur College on September 21, 2020 in Istanbul, Turkey. For the first time since schools closed on March 16, due to the coronavirus outbreak, kindergarten and first grade students were allowed to return for in-person classes at schools across Turkey. The one day a week classes are voluntary and restarted amid strict coronavirus precauti

ISTANBUL — New daily coronavirus cases have remained above 1,500 in Turkey through the month of September, prompting officials to consider tighter restrictions to address the public health crisis that has disrupted lives around the world.

In recent weeks, deaths linked to COVID-19 rose to levels not seen since May in Turkey as the nation’s Health Minister Fahrettin Koca noted Tuesday the number of patients in critical condition has surpassed 1,500. According to data from Johns Hopkins University, Turkey ranks 19th worldwide in recorded cases, currently at 308,069, and 23rd in virus-linked deaths at 7,711.

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