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DPA
Istanbul
Turkey’s president announced a three-day lockdown in 31 cities and provinces from Friday to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Speaking after a cabinet meeting on Monday, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the curfew will begin at midnight (2100 GMT on Thursday) on May 1, a public holiday, and last until the end of Sunday.
The country’s cultural and economic hub of Istanbul and national capital Ankara will be among the major cities under curfew.
Turkey has not imposed a stringent nationwide lockdown since reporting its first positive case on March 11, resorting instead to curfews in certain areas for the last three weekends.
The weekend lockdowns will continue until the end of May, Erdogan said, adding that a schedule for returning to normal would be announced soon.
Meanwhile, Turkey has sent medical supplies to 55 countries, he said, and a military cargo plane will carry masks, hazmat suits and disinfectants to the United States on Tuesday.
He didn’t say how much equipment was being sent or whether it was aid or a sale.
Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said there were 95 deaths from COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, bringing the nationwide toll to 2,900.
In the same period, 2,131 people tested positive, raising the tally of confirmed cases to 112,261.
Stay-at-home orders have only been imposed on those aged more than 65 years and less than 20 years to keep the country’s working force and economy functioning.
Restrictions for the fasting month of Ramadan are also in place, with mass gatherings for communal meals prohibited.
Istanbul
Turkey’s president announced a three-day lockdown in 31 cities and provinces from Friday to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Speaking after a cabinet meeting on Monday, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the curfew will begin at midnight (2100 GMT on Thursday) on May 1, a public holiday, and last until the end of Sunday.
The country’s cultural and economic hub of Istanbul and national capital Ankara will be among the major cities under curfew.
Turkey has not imposed a stringent nationwide lockdown since reporting its first positive case on March 11, resorting instead to curfews in certain areas for the last three weekends.
The weekend lockdowns will continue until the end of May, Erdogan said, adding that a schedule for returning to normal would be announced soon.
Meanwhile, Turkey has sent medical supplies to 55 countries, he said, and a military cargo plane will carry masks, hazmat suits and disinfectants to the United States on Tuesday.
He didn’t say how much equipment was being sent or whether it was aid or a sale.
Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said there were 95 deaths from COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, bringing the nationwide toll to 2,900.
In the same period, 2,131 people tested positive, raising the tally of confirmed cases to 112,261.
Stay-at-home orders have only been imposed on those aged more than 65 years and less than 20 years to keep the country’s working force and economy functioning.
Restrictions for the fasting month of Ramadan are also in place, with mass gatherings for communal meals prohibited.
