Thousands escape from crowded cities for three-week national lockdown in Turkey

Turkey will enter a three-week full nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of the COVID-19. The lockdown will start at 7 p.m. today and will run until May 17. Intercity travels will be restricted to permission only, intercity public transport will operate at 50 percent capacity, while schools in all levels will suspend face-to-face education. All businesses will be closed, but the manufacturing and food sectors will be exempt from the restrictions. Restaurant and cafes will only give take-away services.
Meanwhile, escape from Turkey’s most crowded city Istanbul has been continuing for the last few hours, and the traffic intensity went up to 65 percent at 11:30 a.m. local time.