Turkey extends hours, exempts grocery stores ahead of four-day curfew
Grocery stores and bodegas will be operating during extended hours before the four-day curfew that will start April 23 in Turkey's 31 provinces. In addition, grocery stores will operate during the curfew, along with restaurants, bakeries and some factories.
Duvar English
Grocery stores and bodegas will remain open for extended hours in the 31 cities that will be placed under curfew April 23, Turkey's Interior Ministry said in an official notice April 21.
To accommodate citizens' increased needs for shopping before Ramadan starts April 24, grocery stores and bodegas will open at 8 a.m. instead of 9 a.m., and close at 11 p.m. instead of 9 p.m.
Grocery stores will also remain open between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. on the days when 31 cities will be under curfew, and citizens will be allowed to go to nearby shops.
"Our citizens (who aren't younger than 20 or older than 65) will be allowed to go to the nearest grocery stores for urgent needs and without using personal vehicles," the official notice said for April 23 and April 24.
Stores will be allowed to deliver groceries during those times, but will be closed on April 25 and April 26.
Businesses that produce bread will remain open for all four days, and will be allowed to deliver goods.
Other businesses that will be exempt from the curfew are restaurants, businesses that produce medication or hygiene products, health institutions (including veterinary clinics and hospitals), essential public institutions and some gas stations.
In addition, utility companies, water companies, animal shelters, health equipment suppliers, food and cleaning supply manufacturers, transportation companies, hotels and food packaging suppliers will be operating.
Lastly, large construction sites where workers sleep overnight, media outlets, production for exports and produce marketplaces will also be operating.
Zonguldak and Turkey's 30 metropolitan cities will be under curfew April 23, 24, 25 and 26 to help slow the spread of COVID-19.