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Turkey's COVID-19 cases in 0-17 age group double as in-person education resumes

28 September 2021 18:55 (UTC +04:00)

Turkey’s health minister said on Tuesday that the number of COVID-19 cases among those aged 0-17 has doubled over the last three weeks with the re-opening of schools, APA reports citing Anadolu Agency.

"While the schools have been open for the last three weeks, the number of cases among those aged 0-17 has doubled. Our average active case is now 400,000,” Fahrettin Koca told reporters.

Noting that a quarter of the total COVID-19 cases have been detected within the 0-17 age group, Koca said the opening of universities in-person will also have an impact on the number of cases.

"As the Coronavirus Scientific Advisory Board and the Health Ministry, we think that all alternatives, including weekend education, should be an option and schools should remain open," he said, adding that the same approach will also be considered for university education.

“We do not want to put more restrictions in the new period,” he stressed.

Underlining that the domestic COVID-19 vaccine Turkovac will also be ready for use in the upcoming months, he said the main goal is to achieve herd immunity by vaccination power.

He also noted that they will offer an alternative option with Turkovac, in addition to the vaccines coming from abroad, so people will be able to choose among the available vaccines.

When asked about anti-vaxxers, he said Turkish people do not have a problem with vaccination, while “there may have been some who postponed their vaccination.”