Turkey Rolls Back Curbs on Medical Exports as Outbreak Subsides

(Bloomberg) --

Turkey lifted the bulk of medical exports restrictions following signs that the nation’s coronavirus outbreak is subsiding.

Turkish companies will no longer need official authorization for exports of machinery such as ventilators and related equipment, according to a trade ministry decree published on Saturday. Similar restrictions on shipments of disinfectants and related chemicals were also lifted.

The decision comes as the spread of the virus in Turkey appeared to be under control. The daily growth in the number of new cases dropped to 1.8% on Friday, the slowest pace since the first case was confirmed on March 10. Patients requiring intensive care fell for an eighth day, close to half of the 122,392 patients have recovered and daily hospital discharges are now far exceeding new cases.

The government has dispatched medical equipment to at least 55 countries, including the U.K. and the U.S. Around 120 states asked for medical assistance, which Turkey will continue to meet in the period ahead, Industry and Technology Minister Mustafa Varank said in televised comments on Friday.

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