Cases spike across Turkey as the Virus hits home for Gul

 Edited BY


G P Kennedy



Gul – Aegean Coast, Turkey




AUTUMN 


 The bright summer had passed away, but the gorgeous autumn is here. The green leaves start turning to beautiful shades of red, orange, and yellow so we like walking around. There are more flamingos in the sea at the moment. 


 I think birds migrate here during the autumn and winter months. Some of them have lovely pink feathers. We see more people around now as people are running away from the big cities.


We are extra careful. I don’t blame people for coming back here. The area we live in Istanbul is completely red. We would do the same. 






RETURNED TO APRIL FIGURES


Turkey’s infection rate is rising one of the fastest in the world right now. The Health Ministry reports over 3,000 only new ‘patient’ so the total number of confirmed infections is unclear. Turkey has been under criticism for only releasing the number of symptomatic cases in its figures since last summer. 


The Mayor of Istanbul said there were 164 deaths from corona only in Istanbul yesterday. But when he looked at the figures announced on the same day, and across Turkey, there were only 92 people who died from COVID-19 on that day. Most people accused the government of coronavirus cover-up. 


 This is really bothering me. I’ve written many times to the Health Minister and asked why we don’t know the real numbers. It’s my right to know as a citizen. I don’t know what benefit there could be to under-reporting the numbers. 







Turkey’s death toll has reached 11,500 now. Authorities are urging people to stay at home, but they are not successful. New restrictions so far; limiting the movement of over-65’s in big cities, closing business at 10 pm, and banning smoking in public places, including crowded streets and squares.


Will these measures be enough? I don’t think so. My university friend died from the Virus yesterday. He was only 55 and he had no chronic illness. This needs to be taken more seriously.


A pro-government journalist, Ahmet Kekec died of COVID this week. In his previous article, he despised the corona and he was disrespectful to the doctors by writing an essay Please Commend Me, Turkish Imams. 





INSTAGRAM RESIGNATION


 There was a shock resignation of our finance minister Berat Albayrak who is also President Erdogan’s son-in-law this week. Albayrak quit his role as the most important political figure in an Instagram message.


There was no official confirmation of his resignation for more than 24 hours. It’s so funny that pro-government media ignored the news until the presidential communication office issued a statement.


The state of Turkish media!


 There were rumors that Albayrak’s resignation, something to do with US elections as Albayrak’s close ties to Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. Now that Biden has been elected, things will begin to change apparently. Turkey suffers a currency crisis and a recession since 2018 anyway, therefore the Finance Minister had to be fired.



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