Erdoğan outlines new coronavirus rules as measures partially eased

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President and Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has announced the new rules for what he called "the controlled normalization process."

Weekend curfews, in place since early December, will be lifted in low and medium-risk provinces, while restrictions on Sunday will continue "for a while" in provinces classified as high risk or very high risk, Erdoğan said late yesterday (March 1) after a cabinet meeting at the presidential complex.

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Blue: Low risk, Yellow: Medium risk, Orange: High risk, Red: Very high risk (Map: Ministry of Health)

Face-to-face education to begin today

"Apart from the general practice, only face-to-face exams in high schools will be held in our high-risk and very high-risk provinces," said Erdoğan

As of today, face-to-face education will begin across the country in all preschool education institutions, primary schools, and grades 8 and 12, according to the National Education Ministry.

In low- and medium-risk provinces, face-to-face education will start full-time in preschool institutions and with divided classes in primary schools two days a week.

Distance education will continue in groups and cities not covered by face-to-face education. Participation in face-to-face education will depend on parental consent.

Special education schools and classes across the country will also start full-time, face-to-face education.

The public will return to normal working hours throughout Turkey, while governors' offices will make different arrangements if needed, Erdoğan said.

"The more people abide by pandemic measures, the faster they will ensure their provinces shift to normalization," he explained.

Nighttime curfew continues

"The decision to tighten or loosen measures will be made according to the improvement or worsening of the pandemic [situation] in each of our provinces," said Erdoğan.

However, the country's nationwide curfew from 9.00 pm to 5.00 am will continue, Erdoğan added.

The color-coded risk map of Turkey's 81 provinces will be redone every week according to the risk situation, and the normalization practice will be updated every two weeks, he added.

Businesses such as restaurants and cafes will be open with 50% capacity from 7.00 a.m. to 7.00 p.m., except in very high-risk provinces, he announced.

General assemblies of NGOs, trade groups, cooperatives, and similar organizations can be held in low-, medium- and high-risk provinces with the participation of up to 300 people, he said.

Erdoğan went on to say that in low- and medium-risk provinces, wedding ceremonies up to one hour long can be held with up to 100 people attending, and with a maximum of 50 people in high-risk and very high-risk provinces. (EKN/VK)