Face-to-face education to be determined on a provincial basis

* Photo: Anadolu Agency (AA) - Archive

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Shortly after President and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced a tightening of COVID-19 measures amid a recent spike in cases and deaths, the Ministry of National Education has released a statement about in-person education.

As reported by the state-run Anadolu Agency (AA) yesterday (March 29), the Ministry's written statement indicated that based on the local risk levels, Turkey's provincial health institutions will determine whether face-to-face education for certain grades will continue or not.

The criteria announced on March 1 will be effective in determining the course of in-person education, the Ministry statement said.

Accordingly, preschools, primary schools, as well as 8th and 12th grades will continue in-person education while the question of remaining grades at secondary and high schools will be determined by provincial health institutions. Students will continue in-person education without disruption in villages and sparsely populated provinces regardless of local risk levels.

Private schools and classes which serve students with special needs will continue in-person education full time across the country.

Turkey tightened measures

President and AKP Chair Erdoğan addressed the public following the cabinet meeting yesterday and announced that the country will continue to impose partial restrictions to stem the virus' spread.

The countrywide curfew from 9.00 pm to 5.00 am will continue, Erdoğan said after the three-hour-plus meeting at the presidential complex.

As a public health measure, all restaurants and cafes in the country will operate at maximum 50 percent capacity. Provinces facing very high risk for coronavirus will have full weekend lockdowns, he said.

On the other side, fifty-eight out of 81 provinces, which have 80 percent of the country's population, are classified as very high risk for the virus, shows the risk map released by the Health Ministry.

When the first risk map was announced on February 26, only 18 provinces were indicated as very high risk zones.

The categorization of provinces as facing low, medium, high, or very high risk of coronavirus is based on the infection rates and Turkey's vaccination campaign, which began on January 14, 2021.

During the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, gatherings for sahur and iftar meals, held before and after daytime fasting hours, respectively, are prohibited nationwide, the president further said yesterday. (EKN/SD)