A three-day curfew has been approved. According to the latest breaking information, a curfew will be in effect on Friday, May 1; Saturday, May 2; and Sunday, May 3, 2020. The presidential cabinet met today and once again focused on the coronavirus and possible measures. The meeting, chaired by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, lasted approximately 3.5 hours. After the cabinet meeting, the president summarized the discussions and announced the decisions taken.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan began his remarks by extending his best wishes to the nation and to Muslim brothers and sisters for the holy month of Ramadan. He noted that Turkey’s total number of coronavirus tests is approaching one million. Erdoğan said that the fact the number of recovered patients now exceeds the number of new cases indicates we are at a turning point. He added that, among European countries, Turkey is in one of the best positions concerning deaths caused by the coronavirus. Having a health system capable of managing the outbreak without major disruption is critically important to keeping services running smoothly.
The president also emphasized that Turkey has looked after its citizens around the world. He said the government repatriated 40,000 citizens who had traveled abroad, quarantined them on arrival, and sent them home once their health was confirmed. He announced the same process will now be applied for another 25,000 citizens. He added that no patient abroad has been left without support.
Three-Day Curfew Begins on May 1, 2020
The three-day curfew will begin on Friday, May 1, 2020, and end on Sunday, May 3, 2020. President Erdoğan thanked citizens, on behalf of himself and his team, for the caution and cooperation shown during the previous four-day curfew. He reiterated that the coronavirus spreads from person to person, and the more we reduce mobility, the more effectively we can break the chain of transmission. Measures such as school and sports facility closures and business activity restrictions have had a significant impact. To maintain this positive trend, they are considering keeping restrictions in place until after the holiday.
Key measures and decisions announced include:
- The government expects citizens to comply with this weekend’s curfew. On Friday, May 1, markets and small grocery stores will be open between 09:00 and 14:00.
- The suspension of hearings in courts has been extended from April 30 to June 15.
- Loan payments due for farmers in May and June 2020 have been deferred for six months without interest.
- Remote working arrangements have been extended until May 27, 2020.
- Through the Credit Guarantee Fund, many businesses—mostly SMEs—have received financing support. The state covers employee wages up to the minimum wage level.
- Payments have been made to 1,360,000 citizens. Those placed on unpaid leave or whose contracts were terminated have received income support of 1,177 TL.
- Employers who received force majeure status have had approximately 40 billion TL in social security premium payments deferred for six months.
- Cash support payments of 1,000 TL were made to 2,001,000 households and then to another 2,300,000 households.
- A third cash support payment of 1,000 TL has been launched for everyone who applies, without any precondition.