Story By: Feza Uzay, Sub-Editor: Marija Stojkoska, Agency:  Newsflash

The family of this 20-year-old Turkish woman have urged other youngsters to not “think they are immune” after she died of COVID-19.

Burcu Usanmaz’ relatives managed to stay clear of the disease, and believe she probably caught it at the local shopping centre or market.

The young woman worked for a private company in the Turkish capital Ankara, and turned up at the hospital with flu-like symptoms 20 days ago.

She tested positive for the novel coronavirus and was sent home to self-isolate and given medication.

However, she had to be hospitalised a week ago after her condition worsened, and after six days she died despite the best efforts of doctors.

Her uncle Yunus Usanmaz stated that Burcu did not have any known underlying conditions and was otherwise a healthy young woman.

He said: “She got sick about 20 days ago. We suspected it was the flu. The COVID-19 test they did in the hospital was positive. Although the test was positive, the doctors sent Burcu home.”

“Her condition got worse so we took her to the hospital by ambulance. She was hospitalised for about six days.”

Her body was buried in Ankara on 27th November.

Yunus, explaining that they do not know where Burcu got the virus, added: “We all underwent a coronavirus test, we all had a negative result.”

He added that she had either got it “from the shopping centre or at the market.”

He added: “We want people to remember that everyone is given the same medicine, but everyone’s body is not the same. Young people think they are immune. They shouldn’t think like that, like ‘nothing will happen to me’.

“Burcu was very young and healthy. We are very all so sad, and her mum and dad are devastated.”

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