Turkey’s
General Directorate of Security announced on Saturday it would be
launching investigations into any form of misinformation on the presence
of coronavirus cases in the country.
The investigations will include any form of social media posts sparking fear in the population, the directorate said in an official statement on its website.
The move is adding fuel to concerns that the Health Ministry of the country, surrounded by countries where the disease has been found, is hiding cases of the deadly virus.
Originating in China’s Wuhan province in December 2019, coronavirus has spread to more than 20 countries, including the United States, Russia, Iran, Spain, and India. The death toll caused by the virus worldwide climbed to at least climbed to at least 3,491 on Saturday with at least 102,472 confirmed across the globe, officials said.
Covid-19 has been found in half of Turkey’s eight neighbours - Iran, Greece, Iraq and Georgia.
The Turkish Medical Association (TTB) has confirmed that no cases of Covid-19 have been seen in the country with Health Minister, Fahrettin Koca, announcing on Friday that all 1,363 people suspected of possible infection had tested negative.
The figures include the crew of a Turkish Airlines jet that arrived in Singapore this week from Istanbul with an infected traveller. The crew was transported back to Turkey before undergoing examination.
There is "mistrust among the citizens against the Health Ministry," TTB Chair, Professor Sinan Adıyaman, told bianet news site on Saturday.
"It is definitely thought to exist in Turkey and some rumours are spreading. For example, there has been a rumour for a week that "29 Mayıs Hospital [in Ankara] is in quarantine. But that hospital continues its routine work," Adıyaman said.
Questions also loom over Turkey’s own test kit for the lethal virus. Turkish officials earlier this month announced the kit, which they say provides faster results than the 90-minute kits in use and has the highest accuracy in the world.
The investigations will include any form of social media posts sparking fear in the population, the directorate said in an official statement on its website.
The move is adding fuel to concerns that the Health Ministry of the country, surrounded by countries where the disease has been found, is hiding cases of the deadly virus.
Originating in China’s Wuhan province in December 2019, coronavirus has spread to more than 20 countries, including the United States, Russia, Iran, Spain, and India. The death toll caused by the virus worldwide climbed to at least climbed to at least 3,491 on Saturday with at least 102,472 confirmed across the globe, officials said.
Covid-19 has been found in half of Turkey’s eight neighbours - Iran, Greece, Iraq and Georgia.
The Turkish Medical Association (TTB) has confirmed that no cases of Covid-19 have been seen in the country with Health Minister, Fahrettin Koca, announcing on Friday that all 1,363 people suspected of possible infection had tested negative.
The figures include the crew of a Turkish Airlines jet that arrived in Singapore this week from Istanbul with an infected traveller. The crew was transported back to Turkey before undergoing examination.
There is "mistrust among the citizens against the Health Ministry," TTB Chair, Professor Sinan Adıyaman, told bianet news site on Saturday.
"It is definitely thought to exist in Turkey and some rumours are spreading. For example, there has been a rumour for a week that "29 Mayıs Hospital [in Ankara] is in quarantine. But that hospital continues its routine work," Adıyaman said.
Questions also loom over Turkey’s own test kit for the lethal virus. Turkish officials earlier this month announced the kit, which they say provides faster results than the 90-minute kits in use and has the highest accuracy in the world.
Read more at: Turkey to investigate coronavirus claims amid public concerns over transparency | Ahval
