Turkish health workers join in a moment of silence in front of a hospital building in Istanbul,Turkey on April 2, 2020. Turkish health workers on Thursday attended a ceremony in honor of a prominent Turkish doctor who died from COVID-19 in Istanbul. Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca announced the death of Cemil Tascioglu, a doctor of endocrinology at Istanbul's Capa University, at a press conference on Wednesday. Hundreds of health personnel of the Capa Univesity joined in a moment of silence in front of the hospital building. (Xinhua)
ISTANBUL, April 2 (Xinhua) -- Turkish health workers on Thursday attended a ceremony in honor of a prominent Turkish doctor who died from COVID-19 in Istanbul.
Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca announced the death of Cemil Tascioglu, a doctor of endocrinology at Istanbul's Capa University, at a press conference on Wednesday.
Hundreds of health personnel of the Capa Univesity joined in a moment of silence in front of the hospital building.
The personnel wearing their protective suits and surgical filter masks were seen obeying the social distancing rule as part of the measures taken to curb the spread of the virus.
Tascioglu, known as the Teacher of the teachers, died at the age of 67 years old.
He was tested positive for the coronavirus on March 14, and had since been under treatment at his hospital, according to press reports.
"The number of our doctor friends, nurses or other healthcare personnel affected by the novel coronavirus is high," the health minister said, announcing the new figures related to the COVID-19 at the press conference in the capital Ankara.
"This figure, which I reluctantly announce, is 601," he noted with a trembling voice.
Turkey has far recorded a total of 277 deaths from COVID-19 among 15,679 confirmed cases.
