Normalization Process Begins in Turkey

Following the full lockdown period, the positive developments in the pandemic process have taken place, thereby the recommendations of the Ministry of Health and the Coronavirus Science Committee were discussed in the Presidential Cabinet dated 31 May 2021; within the scope of the second phase of the gradual normalization process to be implemented throughout the month of June, it was evaluated that the following measures should be implemented as of 05:00 a.m. on Tuesday 1 June 2021.In this second stage of the gradual normalization period;

• curfew will be applied between 22:00 p.m. – 05:00 a.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
• full lockdown will be applied on Sundays, starting at 22:00 p.m. from Saturday, covering the entire Sunday and ending at 05:00 a.m. on Monday. Accordingly, the stores will be closed on Sundays.

In addition to curfews, a number of other precautions as stated below have also been taken as follows:
The Ministry of Health, Pandemic Management and Working Guidance for restaurants and cafes is in brief as follows:

• 2 meters in each direction between tables,
• leaving a distance of 60 cm between adjacent chairs,
• Not accepting more than three customers at the same table in open areas and more than two customers at the same time in closed areas, on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, open between 07.00-21.00 hours, will operate on a delivery-only basis between 21.00 – 24.00 hours. On Sundays, between 07.00 – 24.00, they will be able to operate only in the form of package service.

• Workplaces (cinema, tea gardens, cafes, taverns, Internet cafes, gyms, swimming pools, amusement parks) that have been suspended from their activities since 14 April 2021, will be able to operate between 07.00 and 21.00 as of 1 June 2021 (excluding Sundays).

• Wearing stores, glassware shops, variety store, tailor shops, hair styling saloon, offices etc. workplaces and Shopping Malls will be able to operate between 07.00 a.m. – 21.00 p.m. hours (except Sundays) provided that they comply with all the measures to combat the pandemic specified for the business line in the Ministry of Health Pandemic Management and Work Guidance.

• In the second stage of the gradual normalization period; Inter-city travel restriction will be applied only during the period and days where the curfew is applied, and there will be no restrictions on inter-city travel during the period when the curfew is not applied.

• The COVID-19 related restrictions apply to all citizens and residents of Turkey. Tourists are exempt from COVID-19 restrictions.

Our Law Firm remains at your disposal for any further clarifications you may need.