Turkey tightens virus lockdown but tries to protect economy

ISTANBUL (AP) — Turkey has introduced a weekend lockdown that has taken many by surprise, the country having previously adopted a more relaxed coronavirus regime than its neighbors in Europe and the Middle East. The sudden announcement of a 48-hour curfew in 31 cities on Friday evening led to crowds rushing to grocery stores to buy provisions. Many ignored social distancing rules and were not wearing mandatory masks. Prior to the declaration, a curfew had been imposed on those aged under 20 and over 65, crucially exempting most of the workforce as Turkey seeks to keep its beleaguered economy on track.