Turkey will impose a nationwide curfew during the Eid holiday to curb the spread of coronavirus, the country's president said Monday.
"Turkey is successfully winning the battle against this outbreak," said Recep Tayyip Erdogan after the Cabinet meeting held by video conference.
He asked citizens to comply with social distancing rules, warning that stricter measures could be adopted if there is a surge in the spread of the virus.
Erdogan went on to say that the country was not facing any difficulty in meeting the demand for medical and hygiene equipment.
Referring to the travel ban in 15 major cities, he said it will be extended by 15 days.
He stressed the only way to end the pandemic is its elimination globally.
Mosques to open on May 29
Mosques across the country will gradually reopen from May 29 starting with the Friday prayer, he said.
Reiterating that the state was standing with its people in these turbulent times, Erdogan said, financial aid was dispatched to 5.5 million low-income citizens.
The president called on citizens to mark Youth and Sports Day on May 19 by singing the national anthem at 7.19 p.m. (1619GMT).
He said the Basaksehir Cam and Sakura City Hospital will be inaugurated on Thursday with the participation of the Japanese premier.
The hospital complex in Istanbul was built with the collaboration of both countries.
Turkey confirmed a total of 150,593 coronavirus cases as of Monday. Of them, 111,577 have fully recovered while the death toll stands at 4,171.
Tensions in region
Erdogan urged countries working against Turkish interests in the Middle East and the Eastern Mediterranean region to reconsider their position.
He said the political and humanitarian clout Turkey enjoys is backed by its strong history and further enhanced by it advanced military prowess.
"Political or economic projects excluding Turkey stand no chance of succeeding," he said.
