Health Authority Imposes Mandatory Mask Use, Three-Meter Distance Rule in Taksim

Photo: AA

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A district health authority has imposed mandatory mask use and a three-meter social distance rule for İstanbul's Taksim Square and İstiklal Avenue.

Those who don't comply with the rules would be fined, Beyoğlu District Governor Mustafa Demirelli said after a meeting of the District Public Hygiene Council.

The council's decision came after Health Minister Fahrettin Koca complained that the area was too crowded. "İstiklal Avenue didn't look good today. It's too early for so many people to enter a photo frame. Every photo from daily life should support Turkey's daily coronavirus table. Let's try to stay at home. Let's use masks if we go out, let's follow the social distance rule," the minister said in a tweet on Wednesday (May 6).

According to Article 282 of Law No. 1593 on Public Hygiene, people who don't abide by the orders shall be imposed an administrative fine from 250 to 1,000 Turkish lira (1 US dollar=7.12 lira).

İSTİKLAL CADDESİ, bugün iyi bir görüntü vermedi. Bir kareye bu kadar insan girmesi için çok erken. Günlük hayattan her fotoğraf, Türkiye Günlük Koronavirüs Tablosuna destek vermeli. Evde kalmaya çalışalım. Çıkarsak maske kullanalım, sosyal mesafe kuralına uyalım. pic.twitter.com/jAPwgT5Pk5

— Dr. Fahrettin Koca (@drfahrettinkoca) May 5, 2020

(HA/VK)