Turkey has been announced new restrictions including curfews on weekdays and full lockdowns over weekends to combat the spread of the coronavirus. (Ministry of Interior, General Directorate of Provincial Administration, Number: E-89780865-153-20076, Date: 30/11/2020)

Due to the continued rise in the number of coronavirus cases, the following restrictions to curb the spread of the virus, were agreed in the Presidential Cabinet Meeting held on 30/11/2020.

There will be full weekend curfews from 9pm on Friday until 5am on Monday, starting this Friday. The curfews will continue until a new decision is made.

1.1. Production, manufacturing, procurement and logistics, health, agriculture and forestry activities are exempt from the curfew to minimise disruption to the chain. (See addendum below)

1.2 During the curfew, grocery stores, greengrocers, butchers and dried nuts shops can operate between 10.00 -17.00. Our citizens (except for those aged 65 and over and under 20) will be able to shop for mandatory needs as long as the shops are within walking distance and citizens DO NOT DRIVE (except for people with disabilities)

1.3. Bakeries and bread shops will be open to sell bakery and bread products only on Saturday and Sunday. Citizens (excluding 65 years old and under 20) can shop for bread at a bakery, provided it is within walking distance of their home and not driving distance (except for people with disabilities).

1.4 Restaurants and diners may operate between the hours of 10:00 – 20:00 for delivery service only.

2. Until further notice, a curfew will apply throughout the week (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) from 21:00 – 05:00. The curfew is effective from Tuesday 1 December at 21:00.

2.1. Production, manufacturing, procurement and logistics, health, agriculture and forestry activities are exempt from the curfew to minimise disruption to the chain.

3. During the periods of curfew, Intercity travel will only be allowed under conditions considered as compulsory.

3.1 Conditions considered as compulsory:

– A doctor being discharged from hospital where they are treated and returning to their original residence.

– The funeral of a spouse or first-degree relative (Funeral transfer -maximum 4 people)

– Citizens who have travelled to another city within the last 5 days and have no place to stay and who want to return to their place of residence (on submission of a ticket, license plate, other documents showing their travel and information)

Those attending exams announced by ÖSYM and other central exams (and a family member)

Those who want to return home after completing military service,

Released from penal execution institutions

Permission must be obtained from the Travel Permit Boards through application to the Governorships (Kaymakamlığı)

3.2 Intercity travels of citizens traveling by public transportation (planes, trains, etc) will also be allowed to travel as long as they can provide tickets, reservation codes or any relevant documentation.

4. The basic needs (bread, basic food etc) of citizens over 65 will be provided by support units.

* In addition, people 20 and younger as well as those 65 and older are barred from using public transportation *

Criminal procedures may be instigated under the 27th and 72nd articles of the General Hygiene Law and 195 of the Turkish Penal Code for infringement of these measures.

Addendum: List of Places and People Exempt from Curfew.

1. Members of the TGNA and its employees

2. Those in charge of ensuring public order and security (private security guards (see point 3)

3. the necessary public institutions and organizations for the maintenance of mandatory public service businesses (Airports, ports, border gates, customs, highways, nursing homes, elderly nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, PTT, etc.), employees and places of worship, religious officials,

4. Emergency Call Centers, Vefa Social Support Units, Province / District Epidemic Control Centers, Migration Management, Red Crescent, AFAD and those working in disaster activities and those who are assigned voluntarily

5. Public and private health institutions and organizations, pharmacies, veterinary clinics and animal hospitals and those working there, physicians and veterinarians

6. Those who have a mandatory health appointment (including blood and plasma donations to be made to the Red Crescent)

7. Pharmaceuticals, medical devices, medical masks and disinfectant production, transportation and sales for the workplaces operating and those working there.

8. Production and manufacturing facilities and construction activities and employees in these locations

9. Production, irrigation, processing, spraying, harvesting of herbal and animal products, Marketing and transportation workers,

10. Domestic and international transportation (including export / import / transit passages) and logistics companies and their employees

11. In the transportation or logistics of products and / or materials (including cargo), domestic and those assigned within the scope of overseas transportation, storage and related activities

12. Hotels and accommodation places and those working there

13. Animal shelters, animal farms and animal care centers and employees and volunteer employees, created with our Circular No. 7486 dated 30.04.2020. Animal Feeding Group members and those who will feed stray animals.

14. Compulsory needs of pets, limited to the front of their residence.

15. Newspapers, magazines, radio and television organizations, newspaper printing presses, in these places employees and newspaper distributors.

16. Fuel stations, tire repairers and their employees.

17. Vegetable / fruit and seafood wholesale markets and those working there.

18. Bakery and / or bakery licensed workplaces where bread is produced and vehicles involved in the distribution of bread and those working here.

19. Persons in charge of funeral burials (religious officials, hospital and municipality officers etc.) and those who will attend the funerals of their first degree relatives.

20. Large facility strategically operating in the natural gas, electricity, petroleum sector and businesses (such as refinery and petrochemical plants and thermal and natural gas cycle power plants) and those working in these places.

21. Electricity, water, natural gas, telecommunication etc. transmission, which should not be interrupted, and those who are in charge of maintaining the infrastructure systems and troubleshooting. Technical service employees provided that they document that they are on duty to provide the service.

22. Cargo, water, newspaper and kitchen tube distribution companies and their employees,.

23. Public transport, cleaning, solid waste, water and sewage, snow personnel who will work to carry out combat, spraying, fire brigade and cemetery services.

24. Driver of public transportation vehicles (metrobus, metro, bus, minibus, taxi, etc.) and their attendants.

25. Dormitory, hostel, construction site, etc. Those in charge of ensuring occupational health and safety and safety of workplaces, employees who are required to be present (workplace doctor, security guard, guard, etc.),

27. Those with “Special Needs” such as autism, severe mental retardation, downs syndrome, their parents / guardians or their attendants,

28. Within the framework established by the court decision will be that personal relations children (provided that they submit the court decision)

29. Athletes, managers and athletes in professional sports competitions that can be played without an audience other officers.

30. Employees staying at construction sites and whose construction continues. (Work is limited to only within the construction site).

31. Institutions, organizations and institutions with a nationwide service network, especially banks, information processing centers and employees of enterprises (provided that they are in minimum number)

32. Those who document that they will participate in other central exams announced by ÖSYM (spouse, sibling, a companion from the mother or father with these persons)

33. Intercity highways permitted by Provincial / District General Hygiene Boards. Eating and drinking places located in these facilities and the employees working there.

34. Due to the upcoming year-end transactions, independent accountant, financial advisor, chartered financial advisor counselors and those working with these professionals,