ISTANBUL, March 31 (Xinhua) -- A state-run hospital in Turkey's biggest city Istanbul started to admit patients in its brand new building on Monday, carrying high expectations that it would significantly contribute to the country's fight against COVID-19, a physician said Tuesday.

"I believe the new building will bring valuable additions to Turkey's health system in terms of coping with the increasing number of cases of the coronavirus," Nur Dundar, a family physician of the hospital, told Xinhua.

The first phase of the new building of the Okmeydani Research and Training Hospital has a 600-bed capacity with a total of 180,000 square meters of indoor space.

The building includes 240 polyclinics, 81 adult intensive care beds, and 28 operating rooms.

Dundar said the new premises would provide exceptional comfort for both patients and doctors thanks to its advanced technological infrastructure and spacious room.

In Dundar's view, COVID-19 patients would be able to stay in single rooms, or if necessary, they could be isolated in negative pressure rooms with high-volume air replacement.

"These are important advantages to prevent the viral outbreak," she said. "This means that we can reach more infected patients and provide them with the highest quality service."

Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said in a written statement that the building also has an earthquake isolator and a trigeneration system that can produce its power.

"When all phases would be completed, our Okmeydani Hospital would have an 866-bed capacity in total, over a 250,000-square-meter closed area," Koca noted.

All the phases of the hospital are expected to be fully completed and officially opened in May, according to press reports.

Turkey has so far reported 10,827 coronavirus cases, with a death toll of 168. Enditem

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