Turkey declares partial curfew amid COVID-19 concerns

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday declared a partial curfew for the citizens under the age of 20 to curb the fast spread of COVID-19.

At a televised address to the nation, Erdogan announced a series of new measures to contain the coronavirus outbreak as the death toll from the virus climbed to 425, and the confirmed cases totaled 20,921 on Friday.

Facing a growing number of infections, Erdogan said the curfew for people under the age of 20 would start at midnight and cover the entire country.

Earlier, Turkey banned elderly citizens over 65 years old and those with chronic diseases from going out of their homes.

The Turkish leader also said that vehicles would no longer be able to enter or leave 30 major provinces and the Black Sea province of Zonguldak, where pulmonary diseases are widespread.

He said the ban would last for at least 15 days and excludes emergency supplies.

Turkish authorities have already restricted intercity travels across the country, by making it subject to the approval by the governors in each province.

Additionally, wearing face masks would be mandatory in crowded areas, including supermarkets, marketplaces, and workplaces, Erdogan said.

Turkey on Friday registered 69 new deaths from COVID-19, bringing the total number of fatalities to 425, while the tally of confirmed cases surged to 20,921.