Turkey reports 12 new coronavirus cases in largest daily rise, brings total to 18
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Tourists wear face masks as they walk at the historical spice bazaar near Eminonu in Istanbul, on March 13, 2020.
PHOTO: AFP
ISTANBUL (REUTERS) - Turkey identified 12 new cases of the coronavirus, bringing its total to 18, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said on Monday (March 16), marking the highest daily rise since the country announced its first case last week.
Mr Koca said two of the new cases were related to the first case reported in the country, seven had travelled from Europe and three from the United States.
Last Wednesday, Turkey became the last major economy to report an outbreak after taking what the World Health Organisation (WHO) described as "vigilant" measures to delay it.
Since then, the government has ramped up measures to halt the spread of the virus, closing schools and universities, holding sports events without spectators and halting flights to many countries.
Thousands of Muslims returning to Turkey from a pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia were taken into quarantine on Sunday and the Interior Ministry said that bars and nightclubs will be closed from Monday to reduce the risk of coronavirus spreading.
