Officials speaking to Reuters: Saturday and night restrictions could be lifted
The Cabinet meeting to be held today, chaired by President Tayyip Erdogan, is scheduled to discuss steps to loosen the corona virus measures and open cafes-restaurants and gyms effective tomorrow. On the other hand, the restrictions, which are two days on the weekend, can be reduced to one day.
A senior official briefed by the British news agency Reuters on the Cabinet meeting, which will be held at 15: 00 today and where the decisions will be announced by Erdogan, made some statements.
“The most important agenda of today’s cabinet meeting will be the normalization steps towards the corona virus measures. First, a decision is expected to be made on the opening of long-awaited cafes and restaurants. That’s the advice of the Science Board. Daily case numbers, which have fallen from 60,000 to about 7,000, allow this. Closing hours, which are 21:00 in the evening, can be taken a little further. Because businesses are also suffering from this, ” he said.
SUNDAY BANS MAY CONTINUE
He stressed that the start of the summer period and increased vaccination are other elements to support this decision. In this context, the same official noted that the reopening of closed businesses such as gyms and carpet courts is also planned, “the opening of schools is one of the most critical areas. There are two different views on this issue. The first is to open and enter the summer holiday on July 2; the other is to keep schools closed, which may cause infection, while case numbers are falling. After all, this year is almost complete in terms of education. That will also be decided at the Cabinet meeting.
Saturday restrictions may be lifted but Sundays may continue, he stressed. “During this period, there will be an effort to increase vaccination. With support from BioNTech the shortage in terms of vaccination will completely disappear. There is a possibility that life without masks will start in the open soon.”
