İSTANBUL - İstanbul Metropolitan Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu says that while the number of İstanbulites laid to rest in November was 202, 190 or 180 in previous years, this number is now approaching 450: “We are in such a difficult situation. You need to know this.”
İstanbul Metropolitan Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu visited the Gürpınar Fishery in İstanbul today (November 23). Delivering a speech to the workers and fishery owners there, İmamoğlu answered their questions as well.
After Serdar Can, a fishery owner, complained that some municipalities were allowing them to open a stand in only one bazaar a day, Ekrem İmamoğlu said that "it must be due to the pandemic" and briefly added:
"If they are imposing a restriction due to the pandemic, I have respect for all measures taken about the pandemic, let me say this honestly.
"And you should respect this as well. I have such a big mouth when it comes to this issue. Because what will I do if I do not talk?
"I have to talk. Last evening, the number of people who lost their lives due to the infectious disease was 186 in İstanbul. What should I do now? Should I stay silent, should I swallow it?
"I could not sleep at night. Our number of people laid to rest is approaching 450. We cannot catch up with it, you know.
"Normally, in November, our number of people laid to rest - May them rest in peace - is 202, 190, 180 people in İstanbul.
"This number is now approaching 450. We are in such a bad situation, you need to know this. But, about this issue that you have talked about... Tell us which districts do it and we will get in contact with these districts.
"But if it is about the pandemic, may God protect you all from it. I also lived through it myself. I also had that disease. Therefore, I want it to enter no household. Please, you also be careful."