Turkey's 2-day curfew begins in 31 provinces

ANKARA 

Turkey's two-day curfew in 31 provinces took effect at midnight Friday to stem the spread of novel coronavirus.

Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu made announcement late Friday and said it would affect the provinces of Ankara, Adana, Antalya, Aydin, Balikesir, Bursa, Denizli, Diyarbakir, Erzurum, Eskisehir, Gaziantep, Hatay, Istanbul, Izmir, Kahramanmaras, Kayseri, Kocaeli, Konya, Malatya, Manisa, Mardin, Mersin, Mugla, Ordu, Sakarya, Samsun, Sanliurfa, Tekirdag, Trabzon, Van and Zonguldak.

Consumers were seen rushing into supermarkets and bakeries hours before the curfew.

A circular on the issue was sent to governorships that said bakeries, hospitals, pharmacies and workplaces producing health and medical supplies would continue to operate.

The curfew would not be applicable to those carrying out burial procedures for first-degree-relatives and anyone who have an appointment for blood and plasma donation with the Turkish Red Crescent.

Soylu implored residents to remain calm and urged against panic buying, saying the curfew would end at midnight Sunday.

“This is not a normal curfew,” and is one of the measures taken to stem the spread of the virus, he said.

Communications Director Fahrettin Altun urged compliance and said everyone should follow social distancing guidelines.

Turkey confirmed 98 more deaths from the virus Friday, bringing that number to 1,006.

The number of confirmed cases surged to 47,029 with 2,423 patients recovering and discharged from hospitals.

After originating in China in December, the virus has spread to at least 185 countries and regions with its epicenter shifting to Europe.

The pandemic has killed more than 102,00 people, and infected an excess of 1.68 million, while nearly 375,000 patients have recovered, according to figures compiled by the U.S.-based Johns Hopkins University.