Foreign Ministry issues a warning for citizens of Uzbekistan planning a visit to Turkey

Turkey closed schools for the remainder of the semester and introduced a nationwide weekend curfew from 8 p.m. to 10 a.m. as President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Tuesday announced several restrictions to curb the increasing number of COVID-19 patients across the country, Daily Sabah writes.

Speaking after a Cabinet meeting that lasted more than three hours, Erdoğan said restaurants and cafes would be open for takeaway and deliveries only.

Businesses such as grocery stores, shopping malls and hair salons would have their operating hours limited to between 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Restaurants and cafes will be able to serve takeaway orders during the hours and will switch to delivery-only after 8 p.m.

During his announcement, Erdoğan said the previously introduced curfew for senior citizens, above 65 and older, would be expanded to include youth aged 20 and below.

However, the Interior Ministry on Wednesday revised the rules of the curfew for those age groups, allowing citizens aged above 65 to go out between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., while people aged 20 or younger will be allowed from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

The new restrictions also order that all sports events be held without fans.

The other measures Erdoğan announced include the closure of traditional Turkish tea houses until further notice, as well as shutting down cinemas until the end of the year.

Concerning education, Erdoğan said the schools that entered a weeklong fall break on Friday would remain shut and education would be switched to online only.

According to the Interior Ministry of Turkey, the new restrictions will come into effect starting at 8 p.m. Friday. The first of the weekend curfews will start at 8 p.m. on Saturday.

In this regard, the Embassy of Uzbekistan calls on the citizens of the country temporarily staying, studying, working, and permanently residing in Turkey, or planning to travel to this country, to take into account these restrictive measures, take care of their health, and comply with all the requirements of the official authorities to protect the population from the spread of coronavirus.