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In fact, before June 1, when rather strict novel coronavirus (COVID-19) measures were still in place throughout Turkey, the number of new cases and fatalities was on the decrease. However, with the reopening of several places such as coffee houses, cafes, restaurants and barber's shops, the number of cases has started to increase again.
The number of daily cases announced by Health Ministry is still around 1,000s; bu, as especially the Kurdish-majority provinces have witnessed an increase in the number of cases, patients cannot find hospitals to be hospitalized. Those patients considered to be in a relatively better condition are either sent home or hospitalized only after others are discharged.
'Patients cannot be hospitalized'
After Van, Urfa, Mardin, Diyarbakır and Antep, hospitals are now also full in Turkey's eastern province of Ağrı. Speaking to bianet about the issue, Ağrı Medical Chamber Chair Dr. Kasım Çelik has indicated that there are 3 thousand 500 COVID-19 cases in the province.
Noting that hospitals in Ağrı are working at full capacity, he has said:
"There are three pandemic hospitals in Ağrı, one in the city center and the other two in Doğubayazıt and Patnos. All three of these hospitals are entirely full. Taken together with COVID-19 tests and medical imaging, there are almost 3,500 COVID-19 patients.
"251 inpatients are in Ağrı Public Hospital, around 100 in district hospitals and the rest are followed up in isolation and quarantine at their homes.
"As there are no beds available at hospitals, the patients who are in a relatively better condition are sent home and they have to go to private hospitals everyday to be put on a drip. Some of them do not observe the quarantine rules and go out, which increases the spread of the disease.
"We could not find a hospital to hospitalize a fellow general surgeon who had caught COVID-19. His family referred him to Ankara. We cannot hospitalize even a health worker, the situation is that grave."
'Surgeries are constantly postponed'
Indicating that there are patients awaiting surgical operations, Dr. Çelik has said, "Due to the pandemic, people cannot come to hospitals for their diseases requiring treatment. There are patients who need to be operated, but their surgeries are constantly postponed. The pandemic aside, this also leads to a quite serious public health problem."
'Malls, coffee houses are packed'
According to Dr. Çelik, people act like there was no outbreak in Ağrı:
"The entire city acts like there was no virus. While very few people use masks, rules of social distance are ignored in crowded places such as coffee houses and shopping malls. Malls and coffee houses are full, air conditioners are on in malls. Moreover, the border gate in Doğubayazıt is open and there is a serious influx of refugees, which also increases the number of cases.
'It will get worse unless measures are taken'
"There are 3,500 patients now. It is too much when compared to the population of the city. Considering that the autumn and winter will be harsh, we might face situations that we cannot curb. For this reason, strict measures need to be taken in 31 provinces, as it was the case before. Otherwise, the current picture will get even worse."
'Family physicians are not given PPE'
Concluding his remarks, Dr. Çelik has also referred to the work conditions of healthcare workers in Ağrı. Noting that 121 health workers have tested positive for the virus, he has briefly said:
"Health personnel are very tired, they have been exhausted. An arrangement should be made about the working conditions of health workers as well. So exhausted, they cannot pull through the autumn and winter.
"Moreover, the health workers at Family Health Centers are not given protective equipment, they are asked to get them themselves. If the primary care workers are not protected enough, the spread of the disease will increase even more." (RT/SD)
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