The Turks took advantage of this last day to stock up on provisions and desert the big cities for second homes on the coast, before a strict containment imposed by Turkey from Thursday, April 29 in the evening.

The country is confined for a period of 17 days.

In effect until the morning of May 17, the confinement period covers the three-day Muslim holiday marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadan.

This measure was taken to stem the spread of the Covid-19 epidemic, after an explosion in the number of daily cases.

"We must quickly reduce the number of cases to less than 5,000 a day so as not to be late compared to Europe which is entering a period of reopening," the Turkish head of state said on Monday. announcement of this new confinement.

Turkey has peaked at more than 60,000 infections per day since early April, and has recorded 40,444 new cases and 341 deaths, according to a latest report released Wednesday.

The total death toll from the pandemic now stands at 39,398 deaths in the country.

Controversy around alcohol shops

All businesses and businesses considered non-essential will be closed during containment.

Stores selling alcohol have not been exempted, causing controversy on social media, with users accusing Recep Tayyip Erdogan's conservative government of trying to impose its Islamic values.

Except in cases of force majeure, travel between provinces will be prohibited.

Supermarkets, usually open during the weekend despite a curfew already in place during the two weekly rest days, will be closed on Sundays during lockdown.

Turkey had already tightened restrictions aimed at stemming the spread of the virus on April 13, the first day of Ramadan, a month usually auspicious for family gatherings or friends for the evening fast-breaking meal.

The country has thus managed to partially curb the rise in contamination, but the number has still remained far from the announced target of 5,000 daily cases.

Violation of social distancing rules at AKP congresses

But Erdogan's government has come under heavy criticism for organizing mass congresses for his party across the country, in violation of social distancing rules.

Opposition parties blamed the AKP for the increase in the number of cases.

Senior government officials were also seen attending a crowded funeral, as many businesses remained closed and the public was told not to attend the funeral.

On the vaccination front, Turkey, which has a population of 83 million, launched a nationwide campaign in January with the Chinese vaccine CoronaVac.

To date 13.3 million people have received the first dose of the vaccine and 8.1 million both doses.

The country has also received 2.8 million doses of the BioNTech-Pfizer vaccine and has started using them.

With AFP and AP

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