The total number of COVID-19 cases in Turkey has risen to 56,956 with 4,789 new ones reported in the last 24 hours, Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said Sunday.

The death toll from the novel coronavirus reached 1,198, with 97 new deaths, Koca tweeted.

Turkey conducted a total of 35,720 tests in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of tests to 376,100, the minister noted.

A total of 3,446 patients have recovered, and 1,665 patients are still being treated at intensive care units, and 978 intubated, he said.

"The downward trend in transition to intensive care continues. There is a decrease in the number of patients intubated. As we test more, predictably more cases are detected and isolated," Koca stated.

END/XINHUA/UNB/MT