Conclusion

The Turkish authorities reacted early in the unfolding epidemic in Turkey. This has given our country an advantage to stay ahead of the curve and slow the rate of new infections early. But a part of this advantage has already been lost by ineffective communication adopting counterproductive terms like “social distancing” and “isolation” and giving vague or ambiguous messages like “stay home” open to interpretation. That is why the inherent resistance of Turkish culture to the necessary protective measures (“physical distancing”) has obstructed a fast and wide behavior change. More clear and specific, target group oriented and detailed instructions, framed to the specifics of Turkish culture together with early controls and visible enforcement might have been conducive to achieve earlier and more widespread compliance.