İstanbulites fined for smoking in public

* Photos: Esra Bilgin, Onur Çoban - İstanbul / AA

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In compliance with the circular letter sent to the governor's offices of 81 provinces in Turkey, the Governor's Office of İstanbul has banned smoking in places such as the streets and avenues closed to traffic and bus stops.

The Security Directorate of Beyoğlu and Tourism Branch teams have used drones at Taksim Square and İstiklal Avenue, making announcements in Turkish and English to call on people to comply with the ban.

The security teams have urged citizens to use masks, keep their social distance and avoid smoking in public. They have also walked among the crowd, warning the passers-by in English and Turkish to observe the measures against the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

As reported by the state-run Anadolu Agency (AA), the teams have handed out face masks to those who do not have them and fined the smokers for 900 Turkish Lira (TRY), approximately 115 US Dollars.

Police officers have also made inspections in the districts of Esenyurt, Bakırköy, Zeytinburnu and Güngören. (AS/SD)