A man wipes the face of a Turkish soldier wearing a face mask for protection against the new coronavirus, before a ceremony at the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey, in Ankara, Turkey, Tuesday, May 19, 2020. This year's limited ceremony is marking the 101st anniversary of the start of Turkey's War of Independence under the leadership of the young Ottoman army general. (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici)
Turkey reported a continued downward trajectory in COVID-19 deaths and confirmed infections Tuesday, with 28 new deaths and 1,022 infections over the past 24 hours.
Health Minister Fahrettin Koca tweeted new figures showing a total of 4,199 deaths and 151,615 reported positive cases since March 11, when the first infection was confirmed.
Koca said the decrease in patients needing intensive care continued and the number of patients who recovered reached 112,895.
Turkey has opted for partial lockdowns, contact tracing and early treatment in combating the novel coronavirus. Fifteen provinces, including Istanbul, are in the final day of a four-day lockdown.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Monday he hoped the upcoming nationwide lockdown during the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr from May 23-26 would be the final round.
Turks were urged to commemorate from their balconies a national holiday Tuesday that marks the beginning of the Turkish War of Independence in 1919.
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People applaud after singing Turkish national anthem just at 19:19 local time during a curfew due to the new coronavirus, to celebrate the anniversary of the start of Turkey's War of Independence, in Ankara, Turkey, Tuesday, May 19, 2020. This year's limited ceremony is marking the 101st anniversary of the start of Turkey's War of Independence under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey, in 1919.(AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici)
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Turkish honour guard soldiers wearing face masks for protection against the new coronavirus, walk during a ceremony at the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey, in Ankara, Turkey, Tuesday, May 19, 2020. This year's limited ceremony is marking the 101st anniversary of the start of Turkey's War of Independence under the leadership of the young Ottoman army general. (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici)
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Turkish honour guard soldiers wearing face masks for protection against the new coronavirus, walk during a ceremony at the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey, in Ankara, Turkey, Tuesday, May 19, 2020. This year's limited ceremony is marking the 101st anniversary of the start of Turkey's War of Independence under the leadership of the young Ottoman army general. (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici)
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Turkish students wearing face masks for protection against the new coronavirus, wave national flags during a ceremeny at the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey, in Ankara, Turkey, Tuesday, May 19, 2020. This year's limited ceremony is marking the 101st anniversary of the start of Turkey's War of Independence under the leadership of the young Ottoman army general. (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici)
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