Turkish Government Announces Lockdown Around Public Holiday

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced a four-day lockdown across Turkey in an attempt to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

 

The lockdown should prevent people from flocking to celebrate the Islamic Sugar Feast of breaking the fast.

The holiday Eid al-Fitr is the end of the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan. This falls on the evening of May 23 and the following day this year.

But according to Erdogan, major prayer meetings may not be held in mosques until May 29.

Turkey has already diagnosed more than 150,000 infections and more than 4,000 patients have died from the effects of the virus.

About 110,000 patients have already been cured. On Monday, 1150 infections were diagnosed in 24 hours. The virus has reached its peak in Turkey.

1.6 million tests have already been carried out in the country. Erdogan said on Monday that schools will not open again until next school year.