Workers spray disinfectant at the Ayasofya museum in Istanbul, Turkey, on March 13, 2020. Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca on Friday said the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Turkey increased to five, all related to the first patient. (Photo by Yasin Akgul/Xinhua)
ANKARA, March 13 (Xinhua) -- Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca on Friday said the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Turkey increased to five, all related to the first patient.
"Three more cases are confirmed related to the first case... The number of cases increased to five," Koca told reporters.
Earlier in the day, he announced the second confirmed case of COVID-19, who had close contact with the first patient.
The Turkish government confirmed the first case of novel coronavirus infection on March 11. The male patient was then completely isolated, and his family and other people who had contact with him have been under quarantine as well.
As part of the measures to prevent the spread of the virus, Turkish Transport Minister Cahit Turhan announced Friday to halt flights with nine European countries, including Germany, France, Spain, Norway, Denmark, Belgium, Austria, Sweden and the Netherlands, until April 17.
Workers spray disinfectant at the Ayasofya museum in Istanbul, Turkey, on March 13, 2020. Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca on Friday said the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Turkey increased to five, all related to the first patient. (Photo by Yasin Akgul/Xinhua)
