Turkey's former PM Yıldırım tests positive for coronavirus

  03 September 2020    Read: 1066
Turkey

Former Prime Minister and ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) Izmir deputy Binali Yıldırım has tested positive for COVID-19, he said in a tweet on Thursday, AzVision.az reports citing Daily Sabah.

In a statement to Daily Sabah, Yıldırım's aide Sinan Çetin said the former premier's health condition is good, and he has no complications.

Yıldırım's wife, Semiha Yıldırım also tested positive for the virus, he announced on Twitter.

"We went to the Ankara State Hospital today due to fatigue," he said in a tweet. "As a result, we both tested positive," he added.

"Our condition is fine, there is no negative effect. Our physicians decided that we had better stay at home in quarantine," Yıldırım stated.

"We call upon our citizens to abide by the rules of social distancing, mask-wearing and hygiene," he said.

"We are praying, and we also expect prayers."

AK Party previously announced that several of its deputies had tested positive for the coronavirus.

Muhammet Emin Akbaşoğlu, AK Party deputy parliamentary group chairman and Bitlis deputy Vedat Demiröz were also infected by the virus and have since recovered.

Recently, two other AK Party deputies announced that they tested positive.

Ahmet Salih Dal, who is from the southern province of Kilis, announced that he tested positive for the virus.

Hüseyin Şanverdi, an AK Party deputy from southern Hatay province, also announced he tested positive for COVID-19.

Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the Turkish Parliament has also been working under "new norms" including enhanced hygiene measures, use of masks and social distancing.

When the outbreak started in Turkey, the Turkish Parliament barred visitors through March 31 as a precaution against the spread of the coronavirus.

The Parliament also does not accept any visitors for the weekly parliamentary group meetings.

Turkey switched to a new phase in the fight against the pandemic in June, launching a "normalization" process. Most restrictions related to the virus were lifted, but the country started enforcing strict measures in this "new normal" with fines and repeated warnings for those violating the rules, like wearing protective masks and heeding social distancing and personal hygiene.


More about: Turkey   Binali-Yildirim   coronavirus  


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