A weekend curfew will be enforced on June 27–28. Due to the coronavirus outbreak affecting Turkey and the world, many activities have been postponed. Following last week’s nationwide middle school entrance exam (LGS) and the upcoming university entrance exam (YKS) this weekend, authorities announced temporary restrictions on movement during exam hours. There was considerable uncertainty about how exams would be conducted amid the pandemic. As a precaution, a curfew was applied during the LGS session last weekend.
This weekend, a restricted curfew will be in effect during YKS exam hours on Saturday, June 27, 2020, and Sunday, June 28, 2020. Students were strongly impacted by the coronavirus and prepared for exams largely through remote learning. This year’s exams are being held under newly established health and safety rules. In line with those decisions, limited curfews were enforced during the LGS session last Saturday, and similar restrictions will apply during the YKS sessions on both Saturday and Sunday this weekend.
The Interior Ministry Issued a Circular to All 81 Provinces
The Interior Ministry issued a circular to all 81 provincial governors detailing the limited curfew for the YKS exams on June 27–28, 2020, including the specific hours it will be in force. The restriction aims to reduce crowding and the risk of viral transmission before and after the exams and to ensure the exam proceeds without problems. Accordingly, the restricted curfew hours are as follows: on Saturday, June 27, 2020, from 09:30 to 15:00, and on Sunday, June 28, 2020, from 09:30 to 18:30. Outside of specified exceptions, people are required to stay off the streets during these times.
On Saturday, June 27, 2020, the first YKS session will begin at 10:15 and end at 13:00. On Sunday, June 28, 2020, the second session will begin at 10:15 and finish at 13:15. The third session on Sunday will start at 15:45 and end at 17:45. The curfew is designed to minimize crowding and reduce transmission risk before and after each exam session.