YÖK President Yekta Saraç announced at the press conference that the 2019-2020 Spring Term at universities will be continued only by distance education, open education and digital education.

Saraç stated as “Today, we made decisions on some issues in our General Assembly of YÖK. This year, we decided to continue the Spring term education process only with distance education, open education and digital education opportunities. In other words, “in-class” education will not be held in the spring term.” 

Note: The statistics belong to Monday, March 26 - 12.00.

Do you know that as İstanbul Kültür University, we started the distance education studies in 2011 that came to the agenda with the New Coronary Virus Disease (COVID-19), which is experienced on a global scale? Please click here to reach our first press release dated 30.09.2011, where the starting story of CATS was shared with the public.

We started our distance education 10 years ago with 450 students and 22 lessons; Today, we continue to host more than 2 thousand synchronous and asynchronous lessons attended by an average of 10 thousand students, and we continue to work devotedly to move forward every day.

Recently the whole world is under a major health threat. Compared to other epidemics we have experienced up to now, New Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) has made humanity much more anxious both in terms of its spread rate and the severity of symptoms.

With this issue on the agenda, the feelings of fear, terror, desperation, and feelings in other traumas that happen to humanity, vary from person to person and create stress on the body. Based on this situation, it is useful to know the concept of stress and its effects on people.

- Continuing existing hobbies within the possibilities available or acquiring various hobbies.

- He/she should try to adapt to his environment by doing creative activities.

- He/she should continue to be interested in art branches such as painting and music.

- Simple, non-strenuous exercises should be done (with elastic band, exercise ball, if any).

- He / she should perform breathing exercises to inflate the abdominal wall.

- He should learn to relax his muscles by noticing his tense muscles.

- Body parts should be supported with pillows to ensure muscle relaxation in resting positions.

- Practices such as yoga and meditation should be considered among the activities that can be performed in order to provide general relaxation.

- Calm, peaceful, hopeful days…

Lecturer İmge NAS

Faculty of Health Sciences

Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Department

According to the data obtained, those who have advanced age and concomitant disease (such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease) are at higher risk of developing the virus. With current data, it is known that the disease progresses in 10-15% of cases, and it causes death in approximately 2% of cases.

The basic principles proposed to reduce the overall risk of transmission of acute respiratory infections also apply to the New Coronavirus (COVID-19). These;

- Attention should be paid to hand cleaning. Hands should be washed with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, and alcohol-based hand antiseptics should be used in the absence of soap and water. There is no need to use soap with antiseptic or antibacterial, normal soap is enough.

- The mouth, nose and eyes should not be touched without washing hands.

- Contact with infected people should be avoided (at least 1 m away if possible).

- Hands should be washed frequently, especially after direct contact with infected people or their environment.

- There is no need for healthy people to use masks in our country today. The person suffering from any viral respiratory infection should cover their nose and mouth with a disposable tissue paper during coughing or sneezing, if there is no paper tissue, use the elbow inside, if possible, not entering crowded places, if necessary, closing the mouth and nose, using a medical mask if possible is recommended.

As of March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization has declared “Pandemic (Global Outbreak)” for New Coronary Virus Disease (COVID-19). As “pandemic” states a global outbreak, the declaration is not country based, it comes directly from WHO. Therefore, it is also binding for our country.

According to the Private Health Insurance Agreements, "officially announced epidemics" are not covered in the case of a finalized case.

Individuals who comply with the possible case definition will be able to apply to all health institutions, and all transactions of our policy holders who comply with this definition until the diagnosis of COVID-19 will be covered by the Private Health Insurance within the scope of the policy conditions. No fee can be charged for the COVID-19 rapid antigen test. Diseases of our insured who are completely independent of the new COVID-19 are evaluated within the special and general conditions of the contract, as previously.

In the letter of the Ministry of Health General Directorate of Health Services dated 20.03.2020 and numbered 14500235-403.99, hospitals with at least two specialist physicians of the infectious diseases and clinical microbiology, chest diseases, internal medicine specialists and hospitals with a level 3 adult intensive care unit, stated as “Pandemic Hospitals” in which the patients diagnosed with COVID-19 can receive treatment.

It is seen that the treatment processes of patients diagnosed with COVID-19 can be carried out in isolation conditions in the home environment, as well as inpatient treatment when the doctor indicates compliance. Public health institutions will not charge fees for individuals diagnosed with COVID-19. The approach of private health institutions to pricing is not yet clear.

It would be appropriate not to apply to health institutions during the epidemic periods except emergency and mandatory situations. Our insured people can benefit from 24/7 Live and Visual Health Consultancy service from our My Health Mobile application for guidance and support ...

Definite cases: Turkey (2.433), World (480 thousand 446)

Death:             Turkey (59), World (21 thousand 571)

WHO Risk Assessment: Global level - Very High