A tram driver wearing a face mask is seen during the COVID-19 pandemic in Istanbul, Turkey, June 16, 2020. (Photo: Xinhua)

ANKARA, July 23 (Xinhua) -- Turkey's COVID-19 cases increased by 913 on Thursday, while the total cases climbed to 223,315, Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said.

Meanwhile, 18 people died in the past 24 hours, taking the death toll to 5,563, Koca tweeted.

Turkish health professionals conducted 43,343 tests in the past 24 hours, bringing the overall number of tests to 4,446,373, he said.

A total of 1,151 patients recovered in the last 24 hours, raising the total recoveries to 206,365 in Turkey since the outbreak, Koca said, noting that 1,251 patients are being treated in the intensive care units and 378 are intubated.

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

Turkey and China have supported each other in the fight against COVID-19. Chinese doctors and medical experts held video conferences with Turkish counterparts to share China's experience in treating coronavirus patients, protecting medical workers, and controlling the spread of the virus.