Expect big changes from virus: Turkish business group

ISTANBUL

The coronavirus pandemic is likely to make sweeping changes to people's habits, including vacations, diets, technology, and investment, the head of the Foreign Economic Relations Board of Turkey (DEIK) said on Monday.

After the emergence of the virus in Turkey several weeks ago, the group started to hold all its meetings via telecom links, President Nail Olpak said in a video conference.

He also said that all personnel on the board currently work from their homes.

DEIK is focused on public health and maintaining the group’s activities, Olpak underlined.

Turkey's ambassadors to Beijing and Seoul also took part in the video conference, sharing their observations of how China and South Korea handled the pandemic.

The virus, also known as COVID-19, has so far infected 10,827 people in Turkey and claimed 168 lives.

Worldwide, over 755,000 people have been infected and over 36,000 have died in 177 countries and territories, according to data compiled by U.S.-based Johns Hopkins University.

*Writing and contributions by Gokhan Ergocun