Quarantine talkes – interview with Zeynep Altunsu

Interviewer: The situation in the world is serious, how is Turkey reacting to what is happening right now? 

Zeynep ALTUNSU: Since March 12^th till this moment Turkey has been struggling with this virus. The whole world, especially Europe and the USA, are in danger because of COVİD-19. Turkey have kept the situation when the virus spread between the countries. Now we are consciously striving to keep the disease under control. As we have seen, many countries ignored the virus in the beginning and today they combat to clear COVİD-19 in their cities. In Turkey the conditions are very much different! Our ministries and people have taken a lot of precautions, but of course, it’s not exactly clear when it will come to the end.

I: In Poland all schools, universities, hospitals, shopping malls etc. are closed. Is it similar in Turkey?

Z: According to research and mortality rates, we can see that this virus is importantly affecting and causing death of older people, who are over 60-65 years old and it’s very dangerous for the people who have chronic diseases. It was a very important point and compulsory to restrict the social mobility around. Therefore, Turkish government has announced some restrictions. All universities and schools are closed. We continue our classes on online platforms. The government makes the internet available for free in every house for students not to suffer from any obstacle.  

The Intercity connections are banned to stop spreading the virus. All our hospitals, even the private ones, are not closed and all the doctors and healthcare staff are decisively fighting against the threat. The government banned going outside from homes for people who are under 20-years-old and over 65-years-old, also for people who have chronic diseases. What is important, all needs of those people are fulfilled by help of police officers and soldiers. The government is sending out masks to houses for every person to protect them from the virus. 

I: How do you feel about this situation? 

As every person feels. I wonder how it will affect my family, my friends and all the people I love. We are not used to live in situations like this. I believe in our solidarity. We will overcome this virus.

I: Are you afraid? 

Z: Sure, I am afraid. I am suffering from asthma, but I am taking precautions. 

I: How does the society react to what is happening right now? 

Z: At the beginning, Turkish government immediately did everything to protect people, but the public was not aware of the danger of this virus. They did not understand how serious the situation was. The government had taken people, who came from abroad, for the quarantine and done their health controls firstly. Most people are satisfied with the restrictions and precautions for now. But if the situation gets worst, people are aware that higher level restrictions will be tighten up.

I: How does your daily routine look like now? 

Z: In general, we are not going outside from houses, except for shopping. My classes are continuing during weekdays. I spend my time working and being with my family at home. Most of the private and public institutions are closed and employees are having home-office. Of course, we can see some people in the street, because some institutions continue to work as they did. But for these working people the authorities helping to protect themselves.

I: Do you think world is overreacting? Should we follow the Brazil president?  

Z: To be honest there is not logical explanation to what the Brazil president is doing. Because as we see, for countries which have the high rates of patients and the mortality like Italy, Spain or the USA taking precautions in the beginning is vital. I think no country wants to be in their place right now. Everybody and every state should do something to cope with the virus, otherwise it could be a massacre.

I: How does the economic situation look like in Turkey? Do you think tourists will come for the summer holidays or it is impossible? 

Z: As every country, Turkey is in an unpleasant period for the economy. The virus brought great bad effect for the markets, economies and for the currency’s situation. Turkey is one of the countries that does not apply to the IMF. Factories, food industry and other important sectors maintain their work. Some of them are working as a home office, some of them are working normally but cut down working hours or do something different to protect the workers.  

There is increasing unemployment, especially in the USA and the public suffer from the wrong policies and practices. Turkey is trying to prevent people from being unemployed and help people who are unemployed or have to leave the job without salary compulsory. Government has monthly payments system for these people. Also, government provides food for the poorest. Two huge hospitals are under construction to serve the corona patients as a “COVİD-19 hospital”.  Our country helps other countries which are in a very difficult situation like Spain and Italy. 

The issue of tourists arriving to Turkey depends on the prevention and control of the virus until the end of the May. For now, Turkey situation is not going the same path as other countries. We must handle a long time to the restrictions and precautions. According to the experts, the spreading of virus is decreasing, but the mortality around the patients is stable, at the same time the number of people recovering from this virus is increasing day by day. I would like to share current rates.