Haydar Toprakci and Jeyhun Aliyev
27 March 2020•Update: 27 March 2020
TUNCELI/ANKARA, Turkey
A 70-bed hotel in eastern Turkey was allocated Friday to healthcare staff leading the fight against coronavirus.
The intiative was taken by Tunceli province’s Governor Tuncay Sonel.
"We can't thank our healthcare professionals enough who work devotedly in the fight against coronavirus," Sonel told Anadolu Agency.
He thanked the hotel owner who offered the premises located on the bank of Munzur River to health workers free of charge until June 1.
"Our healthcare staff will be able to stay and rest at the hotel after working hours," Sonel said.
He also reminded people to follow the instructions on COVID-19 and stay at home.
In a related development, Ankara Mayor Mansur Yavas announced the start of construction of three container complexes to serve the health workers fighting coronavirus.
He said the complex will have 60 single-bed rooms.
"We will overcome this difficult period with solidarity," he added.
Yavas also said that the municipality rented a 100-bed student dormitory, and allocated it to healthcare professionals.
Turkey has confirmed a total of 92 fatalities from the novel coronavirus known as COVID-19, while the tally of confirmed cases went up to 5,698 on Friday.
After first appearing in Wuhan, China, last December, the virus has spread to at least 176 countries and regions, according to the U.S.-based Johns Hopkins University.
More than 576,800 people have tested positive worldwide, with the death toll above 26,400 and over 128,300 recoveries.
