Turkey to continue curfews to fight virus: President

By Faruk Zorlu and Dilan Pamuk

ANKARA (AA) – Facing a growing number of COVID-19 cases and fatalities, Turkey will continue to impose partial restrictions to stem the virus’ spread, the nation’s president said Monday.

The nationwide curfew from 9.00 pm to 5.00 am will continue, Recep Tayyip Erdogan said after a three-hour-plus Cabinet meeting at the presidential complex.

As a public health measure, he added, all restaurants and cafes in the country will operate at maximum 50% capacity.

Cities facing very high risk for coronavirus will have full weekend lockdowns, he said.

Out of 81 provinces in Turkey, 58 – or 80% of the population – are classified as very high risk for the virus, he underlined.

The categorization of provinces as facing low, medium, high, or very high risk is based on infection rates and Turkey’s vaccination campaign, which began on Jan. 14.

- Measures for holy month of Ramadan

During the holy month of Ramadan, gatherings for sahur and iftar meals – held before and after daytime fasting hours, respectively – are prohibited nationwide, the president said.

Additionally weekend lockdowns will be in place across Turkey during the Muslim holy month, he added.