ANKARA

Novel coronavirus drugs from China were delivered to 40 cities across Turkey via air ambulance to be used for patients in intensive care units, the Turkish health minister announced Tuesday.

"The drugs, which reached the [capital] Ankara late at night, were distributed to 40 cities via air ambulances. The new drugs will be used by COVID-19 patients being treated in intensive care units," Fahrettin Koca said in a written statement.

He noted out that the Turkish Health Ministry's Vaccine Institute would support scientists to develop a vaccine against the virus.

"Turkey will support every promising scientific effort. The Turkish Trade Ministry is ready to pool [for coronavirus vaccine researches]," he added.

After emerging in Wuhan, China last December, the virus has spread to at least 169 countries and regions around the globe, with over 395,600 cases and 17,241 deaths.

To date, over 103,300 people diagnosed with COVID-19 have recovered from the disease.

So far, 37 people have died of the virus in Turkey, with 1,529 cases confirmed.

*Havva Kara Aydin contributed this story