Turkey enters second day of curfew in 31 provinces 

ANKARA- Anadolu Agency

Turkey's two-day curfew in 31 provinces took effect at midnight on April 10 to stem the spread of novel coronavirus.

Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu made announcement late on April 10 and said it would affect the provinces of Ankara, Adana, Antalya, Aydın, Balıkesir, Bursa, Denizli, Diyarbakır, Erzurum, Eskişehir, Gaziantep, Hatay, Istanbul, Izmir, Kahramanmaraş, Kayseri, Kocaeli, Konya, Malatya, Manisa, Mardin, Mersin, Muğla, Ordu, Sakarya, Samsun, Şanliurfa, Tekirdağ, Trabzon, Van and Zonguldak.

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 is not 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.

The public said to follow weekend curfew on day 1

The Turkish public have largely obeyed a weekend curfew in 31 of Turkey’s 81 provinces on its first day on April 11, said the Interior Ministry.

“Almost all of the 63.64 million citizens in 31 provinces have abided by the curfew decision by staying home,” the ministry said in a written statement. Turkey has a population of some 82 million.

It added that 2,756 people who violated the rule were subject to administrative and procedural penalties.

“Critical needs such as bread are being met by social support groups, local administrations, mukhtars [neighborhood leaders], and bakery proprietors,” it said.

Police hand out bread in cities in virus curfew

Turkish police on April 11 handed out bread to people confined due to curfew as a measure to fight the coronavirus outbreak.

Apart from police officers, Vefa Social Support Group members were also on duty to distribute bread.

The group was set up by the Interior Ministry on March 22 to help senior citizens over 65 and those in need, particularly those who live alone or with chronic ailments, as they face the greatest risk from coronavirus.