Life loss from Covid-19 increases to 5 thousand 974 in Turkey 2020-08-17 09:15:08   NEWS CENTER - The Ministry of Health has announced that Turkey’s coronavirus death toll has risen to 5,974 and the total number of cases to 249,309. 19 people have died of the virus and 1,192 people have tested positive in the last 24 hours.   The Ministry of Health announced the latest figures on novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in Turkey yesterday (August 16).   While 1,192 people have tested positive, 19 people have died of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours. 997 people have recovered. The number of tests conducted in the last 24 hours has been announced as 65,956.   According to the figures announced till today, 5,725,242 COVID-19 tests have been conducted in Turkey so far. While the total number of cases is 249,309, the death toll has reached 5,974.   While 679 patients are reportedly in critical condition, the rate of COVID-19 patients with pneumonia has been announced as 7.6 percent. The total number of recovered patients is 230,969.   Citing the Health Ministry data, Minister of Health Fahrettin Koca has also shared a brief message on his Twitter account and said, "Our number of new diagnoses is less than yesterday."   "Out of our total number of cases so far, 12,366 people are still patients with active cases. Thus, they have the potential to spread the virus. These people and their contacts are in isolation," he has indicated further.    He has stressed that if people follow measures against the pandemic and protect themselves, the country will achieve better results faster.   Since originating in China last December, COVID-19 has claimed over 771,800 lives in 188 countries and regions. Nearly 21.52 million cases have been reported worldwide while over 13.52 million patients have recovered so far, according to figures compiled by Johns Hopkins University.