Turkey to Impose Country-Wide Curfew on Ramadan Feast

* Photo: Mustafa Kamacı - İstanbul/AA

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President and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan addressed the public following the cabinet meeting held by video conference yesterday afternoon (May 18).

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As reported by the state-run Anadolu Agency (AA), President and AKP Chair Erdoğan has announced that Turkey will impose a four-day curfew in all 81 provinces on Ramadan Feast from May 23 to 26 to curb the spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country.

"Turkey is successfully winning the battle against this outbreak," Erdoğan has said in his address to the public and asked the citizens to comply with social distancing rules, warning that stricter measures could be adopted if there is a surge in the spread of the virus.

Indicating that "the country is not facing any difficulties in meeting the demand for medical and hygiene equipment," President Erdoğan has also announced that the travel ban which is currently in effect in 15 major cities of Turkey has been extended for another 15 days.

Mosques across the country will gradually reopen as of May 29 starting with the Friday prayer, Erdoğan has indicated further. He has stressed that the only way to end the pandemic is its elimination globally.

New decisions taken in cabinet meeting

Reiterating the measures that have been taken against the pandemic in Turkey so far, Erdoğan has announced the new decisions as follows:

"A curfew will be in effect in all 81 provinces of Turkey as of the eve of Ramadan Feast on May 23 to its last day on May 26.

"On May 24 (Sunday), the citizens aged 65 and over will be allowed to go out for six hours from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.

"The travel ban which is currently in force in 15 major provinces of Turkey has been extended for another 15 days.

"The school year has been ended in the schools affiliated with the Ministry of National Education. The new school year will begin in September.

"Kindergartens and daycare centers will reopen on June 15.

"The non-contact visitations that could not be done in prisons for some time will start again as of June.

"The leave granted to 60 thousand convicts in open prisons has been extended for two months. Sent from prisons due to coronavirus outbreak, their leave of absence was going to expire at the end of May.

"The mosques in suitable conditions will be reopened with the Friday prayer on May 29. Noon and afternoon prayers will start to be held in mosques after some time." (EKN/SD)