İstanbul Medical Chamber: Over 1,000 Health Workers Infected, Ministry Figures Misleading

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More than a thousand doctors and health workers have been infected with coronavirus in İstanbul, according to a statement by the İstanbul Medical Chamber.

Health Minister Fahrettin Koca stated the number of infected health workers in the country as 601 on April 1, while the chamber criticized the ministry for giving misleading figures regarding the pandemic.

On the same day, which was too late according to the chamber, the minister announced that more than half of the cases in the country were found in İstanbul, the largest city of the country.

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The chamber further said that the daily figures announced by the Health Ministry included only the results of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, which works by detecting specific genetic material within the virus. However, according to the chamber, "the whole world has learned that testing and treatment of Covid-19 cannot be solely based on PCR tests."

The Turkish Medical Association (TTB) had also stated that some patients' lung tomography images indicated that they had Covid-19, although their PCR tests were negative.

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Patients who died before a test was carried out or without a positive test were also not included in the official death toll, the chamber said and argued that the official figures on the deaths were much lower than actual numbers.

"The announcement that two [field] hospitals will be built in 45 days in İstanbul shows the gravity of the situation," the chamber said, referring to a statement by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Monday (April 6).

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"Our hospitals are filled with Covid-19 patients, now two patients have to be hospitalized in the same room. The problem with the intensive care beds, which has been very problematic in Istanbul, is also rapidly appearing."

The chamber further stated that protective equipment such as masks, gloves and aprons were not provided to health workers in sufficient amounts and health workers have not been regularly tested for coronavirus as a precaution.

"Health workers pay the price of the wrong policies," it said. (AS/VK)