Turkey inaugurates new hospital for COVID-19 patients in Istanbul

hospital

ISTANBUL, May 29 (Xinhua) -- Turkey on Friday inaugurated a new hospital specially built for COVID-19 patients in the country's biggest city Istanbul.

The hospital was constructed in the Sancaktepe district on the Asian side of the city and named after Feriha Oz, a Turkish doctor, who recently lost her life due to COVID-19.

The construction of the hospital with 1,008-bed capacity was completed in 45 days with the work of around 4,000 workers.

The hospital would serve the country's health tourism when the pandemic is over, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said at the inauguration ceremony.

Turkey has been building another hospital to be used for treating COVID-19 patients in the Ataturk airport area on the European side of Istanbul.

Turkey has so far recorded 4,461 deaths, and 160,979 confirmed COVID-19 cases.