Turkey announces 'full closure' from April 29 to May 17 amid COVID-19 pandemic

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has announced that Turkey will implement a "full closure" from April 29 evening until May 17 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. All workplaces will suspend their activities during the new restrictions, except those excluded by the Interior Ministry, Erdoğan said.

Tourists are seen walking on Istanbul's famous İstikal Avenue during a national curfew.

Duvar English 

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has announced that Turkey will implement a "full closure" from April 29 evening until May 17 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Speaking after a cabinet meeting, Erdoğan said a continuous lockdown will be in force, all intercity travel will need approval from authorities, and all schools will stop in-person classes.

Citizens will have to stay indoors except for essential shopping trips and urgent medical treatment. Certain groups including emergency service workers and employees in the food and manufacturing sectors will be exempt.

The new restrictions will take effect at 7 p.m. local time on April 29 and will end at 5 a.m. local time on May 17.

Chain supermarkets will be closed on Sundays as per the new regulations. 

Daily COVID-19 case numbers need to fall below 5,000 by the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, he added.

Meanwhile, the Health Ministry on April 26 confirmed 37,312 new COVID-19 cases, including 2,716 symptomatic patients.

The new infections pushed the overall caseload to over 4.6 million, including 38,711 related deaths, with 353 fatalities over the past day.

Last week, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said the latest restrictions had shown some results including a 20 percent fall in cases in Istanbul and fewer hospital patients, though they were still a burden on intensive care units.