Hospital Being Built on Runway of Istanbul Airport: Reuters

COVID-19 is spreading rapidly in Turkey. The number of infections has already surpassed that of Iran, which previously had the highest number of cases in the region. According to data provided by Johns Hopkins University, Turkey has reported 86,306 cases of coronavirus infection. Of those infected, 11,976 have recovered, while 2,017 have died.

Reuters news agency reports that Turkish authorities are constructing a hospital for coronavirus patients on the runways of Istanbul's Atatürk Airport. This airport was the primary airport in Istanbul but has been used only for cargo flights and official trips for the last year since the construction of a new airport.

The construction of the hospital on the airport's runway has drawn criticism from Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu. He argues that the airport could be needed in emergencies, such as during earthquakes. According to İmamoğlu, the new hospital could have been built in a convention center not far from the airport or in nearby open fields.