First cases of “South African” and “Brazilian” strains of coronavirus detected in Turkey

Turkey says it has identified two cases of the COVID-19 strain, which was first detected in South Africa, and one case of the "Brazilian" strain, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said.

All three patients with strains from South Africa and Brazil are being held in isolation in hospitals along with people with whom they have been in contact. He did not provide further information about the patients.

Koca also said that the number of people infected with the strain, which was first detected in the UK, has risen to 196.

Turkey has temporarily suspended flights from the UK, Denmark, South Africa and Brazil to prevent the spread of strains that researchers believe are causing more infections.