An additional circular on travel restrictions has been sent to 81 provinces. The Ministry of Interior has issued a new supplementary circular regarding travel restrictions to the governorates of all 81 provinces. According to the latest bulletin, the Ministry has circulated an additional directive to provincial authorities within the scope of City Entry–Exit Measures. The circular temporarily suspends all forms of entry and exit by land, air and sea to and from 14 metropolitan municipalities and Zonguldak for an additional 15 days. The measures take effect at 00:01 on Tuesday, May 19, 2020, and remain in force until 00:01 on Wednesday, June 3, 2020.
The circular sent by the Ministry of Interior to the governorates of 81 provinces emphasizes that social isolation is critically important to limit the spread of the coronavirus, which transmits rapidly through physical contact and respiratory routes and continues to affect countries worldwide. If social isolation cannot be maintained, the circular warns that coronavirus cases will increase, medical caseloads will rise, and public health and order could be seriously disrupted. Following a cabinet meeting chaired by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, it was decided to extend the restrictions on entry and exit to 14 metropolitan provinces and Zonguldak for an additional 15 days.
All Entries and Exits Suspended for 15 Days
All entries and exits suspended for 15 days. The published circular provides the following clarifications on the measures taken. Under the directive sent by the Ministry of Interior to the 81 provincial governorates, all entry and exit to and from the borders of 15 provinces via air, land and sea will be temporarily suspended for 15 days. According to the published circular, the 15-day temporary restriction on these provinces will begin at 00:01 on the night of Tuesday, May 19, 2020. This temporary suspension will remain in effect until 24:00 on Wednesday, June 3, 2020. Residents of these provinces are expected to remain in their provinces for the duration of the restriction.
Citizens who fail to comply with the stated measures will be fined in accordance with Article 282 of the Public Hygiene Law. Further enforcement will be carried out pursuant to the relevant provisions of the law in cases of noncompliance. Where behavior constitutes a criminal offense, necessary action will be taken under Article 195 of the Turkish Penal Code.