Turkey expands measures, 80 pct live in high-risk provinces

*Most of the provinces in Turke are marked “red,* meaning high risk category, according to the new map released by the government. The number was 17 one month ago.*

Turkey has announced new measures, including weekend shutdowns, in the face of rising Covid-19 cases, with 58 provinces, where 80 percent of the population reside, are now under the category of very high risk.

The Sunday curfews in “very high-risk” category provinces is expanded to Saturdays, President Recep Tayyin Erdoğan said, following a cabinet meeting late on March 29.

“The increase in the number of cases, patients and deaths have forced us to review the current practices,” Erdoğan said.

The daily curfew between 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. remains, according to the new measures.

Restaurants and cafes will remain open with half capacity in line with current restrictions.

Restaurants and cafes will be open to only takeaway and home delivery services during Ramadan, which start son April 13, ending on May 12.

The mass iftar dinners will be forbidden during Ramadan, too.

Erdoğan called for “return to normal” after Ramadan.

Erdoğan’s ruling Justice and Development Party has been under opposition criticism for holding crowded provincial party congresses and the general assembly on March 24.

The number of daily new cases has exceed 30,000 as of today.