Turkey has curfewed 31 cities because of the coronavirus pandemic – creating a huge mess!
The Home Office announced Friday night that people in Istanbul, Ankara and other major cities should not leave their homes for 48 hours after midnight.
After that, according to media reports, people stormed into the streets of the capital, Ankara and the Bosphorus metropolis, Istanbul, to make final errands. Long lines formed in front of grocery stores, banks and liquor stores. In some cases there have been fights.
–
–
The Mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem İmamoğlu (49), said on Twitter that he knew nothing about the decision: “The decision should not be made suddenly. (…) We are not informed. We don’t even know what services we will offer tomorrow in Istanbul. Every decision without common sense and cooperation only creates confusion and panic. “
–
–
By contrast, Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu (50) said there was no need to panic. According to his ministry, bakeries, pharmacies, petrol stations and post offices should remain open. Exceptions to the curfew also apply to journalists.
► Turkey had recently stepped up measures to curb the corona virus, ordered curfews for under 20s and people over 65, and quarantined several locations. In the fight against the spread of the virus, the authorities also closed schools, suspended international flights and prohibited community prayers and gatherings.
According to official figures, more than 47,000 cases of infection were registered in Turkey by Saturday, most of them in Istanbul. 1006 people died nationwide. Turkey is one of the countries with the greatest increase in new infections worldwide.
– .
Related
