Turkey's daily coronavirus deaths rose to a record 217 in the last 24 hours, bringing the total death toll to 15,531, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said on Wednesday, and added there had been more than 1.5 million coronavirus cases in total.
For four months, Ankara only reported daily symptomatic cases, but has reported all cases since Nov. 25.
On Wednesday, Koca said the government would publish historical data for all cases starting Thursday.
"Our positive case numbers exceeded 1.5 million. Of these, 550,000 went through a visible sickness," Koca told a news conference after meeting the government's coronavirus science council, and added there were 31,712 new coronavirus cases, including asymptomatic ones, in the last 24 hours.
Turkey is ready to procure Russia's coronavirus vaccine if it meets Ankara's criteria, Koca said, after an earlier report cited him as ruling out buying the Russian vaccine.
The Haberturk news website quoted Koca as saying Turkey had ruled out buying the Russian vaccine, as it did not meet "good laboratory practice" conditions.
It did not say which Russian vaccine it was referring to, but Turkey has been conducting Phase III for "Sputnik V".
Asked about procurements of vaccine, Koca said Turkey expected to receive delivery of China's Sinovac Biotech Ltd in the coming days, adding that it was in talks to procure other vaccines if needed, too.
