Istanbul accounts for 54 pct of new coronavirus cases in Turkey: health minister

Workers wearing masks are seen outside a restaurant in Istanbul, Turkey, on July 1, 2020. Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said on Wednesday that the past week's new COVID-19 cases in Istanbul, the largest metropolis in Turkey, accounted for 54 percent of all the increase across the country. (Xinhua/Xu Suhui)

ANKARA, July 1 (Xinhua) -- Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said on Wednesday that the past week's new COVID-19 cases in Istanbul, the largest metropolis in Turkey, accounted for 54 percent of all the increase across the country.

This remarkable increase is also observed in the capital Ankara, northwestern Bursa, Central Anatolian Konya as well as southeastern Gaziantep and Diyarbakir provinces in the past week, the minister told reporters at a press conference.

Warning about the trend of decrease in the average age of COVID-19 cases in Turkey in the past month, he said the coronavirus cases are seen mostly between 25 and 45.

Turkey's COVID-19 cases increased by 1,192 on Wednesday, raising the total number in the country to 201,098, according to Koca.

Meanwhile, 19 people died in the past 24 hours, taking the death toll to 5,150, while 2,311 more patients recovered, raising the total recoveries to 175,422, the minister said.

A total of 1,035 patients are being treated at the intensive care units and 362 intubated, he added.

Turkish health professionals conducted 52,313 tests in the past 24 hours, bringing the overall number of tests to 3,433,963, Koca noted.

Turkey reported the first COVID-19 case on March 11.

Turkey and China have supported each other in the fight against the COVID-19.

Chinese doctors and medical experts have held a video conference with their Turkish counterparts to share China's experience in treating coronavirus patients, protecting medical workers, and controlling the spread of the virus. Enditem

A chef wearing a mask works in a restaurant in Istanbul, Turkey, on July 1, 2020. Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said on Wednesday that the past week's new COVID-19 cases in Istanbul, the largest metropolis in Turkey, accounted for 54 percent of all the increase across the country. (Xinhua/Xu Suhui)

People wearing masks do shopping at a market in Istanbul, Turkey, on July 1, 2020. Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said on Wednesday that the past week's new COVID-19 cases in Istanbul, the largest metropolis in Turkey, accounted for 54 percent of all the increase across the country. (Xinhua/Xu Suhui)

People wearing masks are seen on a street in Istanbul, Turkey, on July 1, 2020. Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said on Wednesday that the past week's new COVID-19 cases in Istanbul, the largest metropolis in Turkey, accounted for 54 percent of all the increase across the country. (Xinhua/Xu Suhui)