New pandemic measures by İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality

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The Metropolitan Municipality of İstanbul (İMM) released a written statement about the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic today (November 17).

Referring to the increasing number of cases both among the society and its own personnel as well as to the recommendations of the İMM Scientific Advisory Board, the statement of the Municipality has read, "The İMM has taken lockdown measures to curb the spread of the outbreak."

Accordingly, the following lockdown measures will be in effect in the city as of this Thursday (November 19):

* The opening of İstanbul Arts and Vocational Training Center (İSMEK) courses, for which the registration is still open and which are planned to give face-to-face education, has been postponed until a later date. Online courses will continue in certain areas.

* Scientific information refers to sports halls and pools as the places with a high infection rate. Accordingly, it has been decided to close the facilities owned by the İMM and managed by the Spor Inc.

* Cultural Centers will remain closed.

* It has been decided that the performing acts performed in closed halls be staged on online platforms.

* It has been decided to close all museums of the İMM that do not fall within the scope of open-air museums.

As part of previous coronavirus measures, the İMM has also adopted a system of distance and alternate working since November 9.

'Nearly 2,000 personnel have tested positive'

In explaining the reasons for the new measures introduced by the İMM, the statement has referred to the "fast spread of the virus in our country," indicating that "according to the scientists' remarks, the outbreak is now more effective than the April-March period."

"According to the statements of Mr. Health Minister Dr. Fahrettin Koca, İstanbul is the city where the outbreak has been most intensely experienced," the statement of the Municipality has read further, raising concerns that "almost half of all cases and deaths are in İstanbul."

The Municipality has announced that "this data is also the case for the İMM and its subsidiaries." Accordingly, "despite all measures taken against the pandemic since February, when the virus had not yet entered Turkey, nearly 2,000 personnel of the İMM and its subsidiaries have tested positive for COVID-19 while 1,332 personnel are in quarantine." (EMK/SD)