Turkey to ease COVID-19 restrictions from June 1

Turkey will lift restrictions on intercity travel and allow restaurants, cafes, parks, and sports facilities to reopen from June 1 as it eases restrictions imposed to curb the coronavirus outbreak, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Thursday.

Speaking after the weekly cabinet meeting, Erdoğan unveiled the details of Turkey's new steps toward normalization, according to Turkish media.

June 1 onward Turkey will lift travel restrictions between provinces, civil servants will return to their normal job routine, Erdoğan said, while people will be permitted to attend open-air concerts. Bars and hookah bars will remain shut.

Restaurants, cafes, beaches, parks, gardens, driving courses, museums, sports facilities, daycare centers, and kindergartens will also reopen on the same date, he said.

The limited restrictions would remain in place on the movements of those aged over 65 and under 18. Youths aged 19 and 20 will now be allowed outdoors, said the President.

The announcement comes amid a drop in the number of reported daily COVID-19 deaths and infections in the past week.

The virus has killed more than 4,300 people in Turkey and infected nearly 160,000.