Derya Ren 

 

DİYARBAKIR - Making evaluations about the increasing cases in the city and regional provinces, Diyarbakir Medical Chamber Chairperson Elif Turan stated that there is a relief in the public with the start of the holiday season. Elif called for everyone to be sensitive about the pandemic.

 

Health Minister Fahrettin Koca had recently announced the number of coronavirus (Covid-19) cases seen in 100.000 people between 10-16 July, according to the provinces. The increase in the number of cases in many provinces, including regional provinces such as Siirt, Bingöl, Diyarbakır, Iğdır and Van, was remarked.

 

However, while it is estimated that there are cases much higher than the announced data, experts continue to warn citizens to take their own precautions.

 

Elif Turan, Chairperson of Diyarbakır Medical Chamber, made evaluations on the subject.

 

‘People have a perception that the pandemic is over’

 

Reminding the latest coronavirus cases announced by the Minister of Health, Elif said that Diyarbakır is among the first five provinces with increasing cases. Expressing that the pandemic cannot be carried out over economic concerns and that it is necessary to act with science, Elif said: ‘’We saw that with the start of the holiday season, the bans were lifted. However, with the lifting of the bans, there was a sense of relief and the end of the pandemic. In the previous summer, there were no beds in Diyarbakir where we could lay patients. This is not the case right now. However, if the increase in cases continues, we may experience the fourth peak in the coming days. Because of this, we say that we should act with science.’’

 

‘People who are vaccinated can get over it more easily’

 

Stating that the peak of the first wave of the pandemic was experienced in the city, Elif stated that the tests of 400-500 people daily were positive in hospitals and that nearly 160 people were hospitalized. Elif said: ‘’The Delta variant is also seen in the city at the moment. According to the researches, the rate of spread of the Delta Variant among people is higher than other variants. Therefore, it is useful to be sensitive. Let's wear our masks, pay attention to the distance. Let's not go into crowded environments and keep the contact short. We have an advantage compared to two years ago because now we have the vaccine, we can protect ourselves and our loved ones with it. Almost 70-75 percent of positive cases hospitalized are people who have never been vaccinated. We can see that people who have been vaccinated overcome the coronavirus more easily.’’

 

‘There are schools among the places where the risk of infection is high’

 

‘’Schools will be opened in the next month, but adequate measures should be taken for this. Because if measures are not taken, schools are one of the places where the risk of infection is highest,’’ Elif said. Noting that schools contribute to the development of children both physically and spiritually, she continued as: ‘’Schools should not be closed. Because the more the schools are closed, the more students stay away from their education. On the other hand, staying away from education can cause mental problems in students. Besides teachers, students should also be vaccinated.’’

 

‘Lets everyone vaccinated’

 

Emphasizing that the pandemic process could not be carried out consciously and the public was not informed, Elif pointed out that the deficiency in the pandemic should not be repeated during the vaccination process and that the public should be informed about the vaccine. Elif said that as the Medical Chamber they are calling for everyone to be vaccinated, and stated: ‘’We stand by every vaccine that has been scientifically proven to be effective and safe. The vaccine currently being applied in Turkey is effective against the epidemic. In order to overcome the pandemic more easily, be sure to vaccinate. The treatment method currently used for the epidemic is to relieve symptoms. With the vaccine, we can overcome the pandemic more mildly. When we look at history, many epidemics have been eradicated with vaccination. Once again, I call on the citizens. Everyone should be vaccinated, and those who are vaccinated should not give up their personal precautions.’’