Wearing Face Masks Made Compulsory in 25 Provinces

Yüksel Street, Ankara (Photo: AA)

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Public Hygiene Councils in 25 provinces have imposed compulsory use of face masks in public.

In 14 provinces, including İstanbul, the largest and the most affected city from the pandemic, people have to wear face masks in central districts and streets. 

İstanbul Public Hygiene Council previously imposed mandatory mask use and a three-meter social distance rule for Taksim Square and İstiklal Avenue.

According to country-wide rules imposed by the government, face masks are obligatory in public transport vehicles and crowded places, such as grocery stores.

Provinces with compulsory face mask use: Balıkesir, Denizli, Eskişehir, Kahramanmaraş, Kocaeli, Konya, Muğla, Sakarya ve Şanlıurfa'nın yanı sıra Adıyaman, Afyonkarahisar, Amasya, Bolu, Bartın, Burdur, Düzce, Isparta, Gümüşhane, Karabük, Kastamonu, Kırklareli, Rize, Siirt and Uşak.

Provinces that mandated masks in certain places: İstanbul, İzmir, Gaziantep, Giresun, Karaman, Kayseri, Ordu, Trabzon, Tunceli, Van, Kırıkkale Manisa, Bitlis and Çanakkale.

Nearly 10,000 people are in quarantine

At least 9,700 citizens are in quarantine as part of measures to curb the spread of coronavirus, Mehmet Kasapoğlu, the Minister of Youth and Sports announced yesterday (May 20).

Citizens are in isolation at dormitories across 76 provinces, he said. Meanwhile, 67,547 citizens have so far been released from quarantine after completing the mandatory 14-day period.

"With the instructions from our President [Recep Tayyip Erdoğan], we are hosting our guests from all corners of the world in our dormitories," Kasapoglu said.

The minister also said that books, toys and sports equipment are distributed to those quarantined to prevent any possible psychological effects. (TP/VK)