New year’s curfew in Turkey: Celebrations in hotels not allowed

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The Ministry of Interior sent a circular letter entitled "New Year's Programs in Hotels/ Accommodation Facilities" to 81 governor's offices across the country yesterday evening (December 21).

The circular of the Interior Ministry, as was also indicated by the Ministry itself, came amid advertisements and campaigns of some hotels and accommodation facilities for New Year's programs with food and music.

Sending a circular letter to the governor's offices of all 81 provinces to restrict New Year's programs of hotels and accommodation facilities amid the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, Turkey's Ministry of Interior has announced that celebrations will not be allowed in hotels and accommodation facilities during the New Year's curfew.

Published on the official website of the Ministry as well, the circular has also noted that music and other performances will not be allowed in hotels and accommodation facilities after 10 p.m. on days of the curfew.

As reported by the Anadolu Agency (AA), the necessary measures will also be taken to ensure that customers staying at hotels and accommodation facilities do not come together in crowds. "A particular attention will be paid to this issue especially at meal times," the circular has underlined.

While the law enforcement officers will be inspecting whether these restrictions are observed or not during the curfew, an administrative action will be taken as per the relevant articles of the Law on Public Health and Law for Encouragement of Tourism in the event of a violation and a legal action will be taken as per the Article 195 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK), if the related action of a person is considered to constitute a crime.

4-day curfew over New Year's

CLICK - Turkey to impose 4-day curfew over New Year's

President and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan addressed the reporters following the Cabinet meeting in the capital city of Ankara on December 14

Erdoğan announced that as a measure to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), Turkey would have a countrywide curfew spanning the New Year's holiday, from December 31 to early January 4.

In addition to ongoing public health measures, the holiday lockdown would last from 9 p.m. on December 31 to 5 a.m. on January 4, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan told reporters after a Cabinet meeting in the capital Ankara. (EKN/SD)