Turkey prepared to enter its strictest lockdown of the pandemic as people stocked up on groceries, filled markets and left cities for their hometowns or the southern coast on Thursday.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan imposed a full nationwide lockdown to last nearly three weeks, from Thursday evening until May 17 amid reports of soaring COVID-19 cases and deaths.
The Turkish government had previously opted for partial lockdowns or weekend curfews in a bid reduce the economic impact.
Under the new restrictions, residents are required to stay home except for grocery shopping and other essential needs, while intercity travel is only allowed with permission.
Some businesses and industries are exempt from the shutdown, including factories, health care and supply chain and logistics companies and agriculture.
Lawmakers, health care workers, law enforcement officers and tourists are also exempt from the stay-home order.
Many people left large cities such as Istanbul and Ankara to spend the shutdown at vacation homes on the coast. Reports said Bus terminals and airports were packed with travelers, while vehicles backed up in severe traffic at the entrance of the Aegean coastal resort of Bodrum.
The country relies heavily on tourism to bring in foreign currency and wants to slow infection rates before the season starts.
Erdogan’s government has been severely criticized for holding mass party congresses across the country, in breach of social distancing rules and Opposition parties have blamed his ruling party for the surge in cases.
Discover more from LN247
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
