Turkey enforces partial shutdown amidst rise in coronavirus infections

(MENAFN) On Tuesday, Apr. 13 Turkish leader Tayyip Erdogan declared intensifying constraints to control the increase in coronavirus infections, enforcing a "partial closure" for the first two weeks of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Erdogan stated at a press meeting following a cabinet assembly: "the recent rise in the number of infections and deaths, especially in big cities, has forced us to tighten up measures once again." He added that the hours of weekday lockdown will be prolonged, intercity travel, except for pressing cases, will be suspended, and people under the age of 18 and over the age of 65 will not be permitted to use public transport. Cafes and restaurants will only offer delivery and takeaway services. Internal activity sites like wedding halls, sports centers and game halls will shut down, whereas the majority of the grades in schools will go back to distance learning. Weekend lockdowns will remain in high-risk cities.