Rapid Test Call from IMM Scientific Advisory Board

The IMM Scientific Advisory Board, which was implemented by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) administration in March 2020, drew attention to the increasing number of cases and deaths due to COVID-19 and the Omicron variant, and drew attention to the need to increase the number of PCR tests.

The IMM Scientific Advisory Board announced that the increase in the number of deaths in Istanbul caused concern.

In the statement made; It was underlined that easing the COVID-19 measures by relying on vaccination of individuals and institutions is misleading, and the number of cases and deaths increased due to the decrease in the number of rapid PCR tests.

THE NUMBER OF CASE IS APPROACHING THE LEVEL OF 100 THOUSAND

The IMM Scientific Advisory Board shared the information that the daily number of COVID-19 cases in Turkey is at the limit of 100 thousand and the number of deaths has increased. The Board stated that the perception that the epidemic has eased has increased its concerns, and that is why they wanted to warn the public and the authorities.

QUICK TEST IS MORE APPLIED

The Board stated that PCR tests are performed on more than a thousand people in Europe, which is lower in Turkey, and announced that PCR tests are applied on 16 people out of every thousand people in France and 36 people out of every thousand people in Denmark. The Board explained that the coronavirus, which is at least 5 times more lethal than the seasonal flu, should be considered as in the first time, and stated that rapid testing should be done more, and that the epidemic can only be brought under control in this way.

INCREASE IN DEATH GRAPH

Stating that the most intense increase in the number of cases across the country was in Istanbul, the IMM Scientific Advisory Board stated that there was a serious increase in the current death rate of Istanbul. The Board noted that the number of weekly deaths in 2022 was 2015 percent higher than the 2019-43 average, and emphasized that some of the deaths were caused by the Omicron variant. IMM Scientific Advisory Board; He reminded the statements of expert scientists such as the Turkish Medical Association, the Clinical Microbiology and Infection Association, and the Turkish Thoracic Society that Omicron is more contagious. The Board also included the fact that many physicians and health workers are unable to provide services due to the COVID-19 transmission.