Turkey’s daily COVID-19 infections, which climbed to a record high of over 60,000 in the middle of this month, dipped to 40,000 after the government re-introduced restrictions on the population during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
The country recorded 38,553 new cases on Sunday, the Health Ministry announced. Deaths totalled 347, bringing the toll to 38,358 since the start of the pandemic in March last year.
Infections in Turkey have surged from less than 10,000 per day after the government eased curbs on the population on March 1. On April 15, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan reversed course, announcing a longer two-week evening curfew to coincide with the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
The curfew is enforced from 7 p.m. each day, instead of a previous 9 p.m., and lasts until 5 a.m.
The government has also prohibited long distance travel on weekends, except in cases of emergencies. Cafes, coffee houses, clubs, tea gardens, gyms and shopping malls suspended activities until after Ramadan, which ends on May 12. Restaurants will only provide food via take-aways and deliveries. The government also banned mass fast-breaking meetings and similar events.
Ahval