Children walk in a park in Ankara, Turkey, on May 20, 2020. Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca on Wednesday reported 972 new COVID-19 cases and 23 more deaths in the country. (Photo by Mustafa Kaya/Xinhua)

ANKARA, May 20 (Xinhua) -- Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca on Wednesday reported 972 new COVID-19 cases and 23 more deaths in the country.

The total number of confirmed coronavirus cases has surged to 152,587, while the death toll climbed to 4,222, the minister tweeted.

Turkish authorities conducted 20,838 tests for the coronavirus in the last 24 hours, bringing the overall number of tests to 1,696,355, he stated.

In addition, 113,987 patients have recovered from the virus since the outbreak, while 877 are being treated at intensive care units and 445 intubated, according to the minister.

Turkey reported its first COVID-19 case on March 11.