Week 25 - Gul is ticking over while parts of Turkey may be boiling over

 Edited BY


G P Kennedy

Gul - Istanbul, Turkey

CALM DAYS

Our days are very calm, we are living the same routine every day and we’re actually forgetting what day of the week it is. We swim, walk, pick seasonal fruits from the trees. We’re spending more time at home lately because it’s cool in the evenings. Nobody stumbles on anyone nowadays because everyone is afraid of each other. We still endlessly remind those who forget to wear their masks. 


BLAME THE PUBLIC

While some countries are entering the second wave of Coronavirus, the first wave never ended in Turkey. Some places are in local lockdowns after the government introduced new measures last week. We’re very concerned with the sharp rise in infection rates.


The President blamed the public again saying people have not complied with the rules. Sorry for going to work Mr. President, sorry for using public transport, Mr. President. I can’t see the end in all this until the government starts doing the right thing. 


The death toll from the pandemic rose to 7500 with 68 new fatalities yesterday. The number of patients in critical condition is worryingly rising too.


WE SUPPORT HEALTH PROFESSIONALS

Last week, we made pink our social media profiles to support the music sector that lost income due to coronavirus restrictions. This week, we turned our profiles to black to show our support for the Turkish Medical Association after it was targeted by the Leader of the Nationalist Movement Party.


The Association has launched a campaign titled ‘You can’t manage, we are burning out’ and doctors staged protests for the health workers who lost their lives from coronavirus. In response to the doctors’ protests Nationalist Movement Party leader said the association should be shut down.


I found this is insulting against the memory of the health workers who lost their lives while fighting with the COVID. We’re backing our health professionals as they risk their lives to save the lives of others. 

There was tension in the air as the data of the Turkish Medical Association showed that the Ministry of Health is hiding the real figures. Sadly over 90 health workers have lost their lives and thousands have been infected with the virüs.  


GOING TO WORK

Year 1 students will be going back to their school once a week. My sister who works with children is starting too, she’ll be only working two days a week but I still worry for her as she’s diabetes and high blood pressure. I have ordered an N95 mask for her and us. We’re getting ready for winter. 


Well, I cannot find anything else to report for this week, there’s nothing different in our life. We’ve never had such a monotonous life. I wish you all healthy days by saying that this too shall pass. I hope soon...

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