A medical worker puts on personal protective equipment before entering a sealed room to assist a COVID-19 patient in the intensive care unit (ICU) of Dr. Cemil Tascioglu City Hospital, in Istanbul, Turkey, on May 07, 2020. (Photo by AFP)

Malls, barber shops, hair dressers’, and other facilities have reopened after a nearly two- month closure due to the spread of the coronavirus in Turkey.

This came after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that the country would ease the pandemic containment measures. He, however, asked citizens to abide by the rules imposed by the government to help decrease the number of infections and finally get rid of the virus soon. He also apologized to Turkish citizens if the measures caused them trouble and assured that the measures were necessary.

The reopening of the shops is considered the first phase of easing the pandemic lockdown. The Turkish government announced a four-stage plan to relax lockdown measures last week.

The Interior Ministry has urged people to observe the protocols and take the virus seriously because the country is still struggling with the pandemic.

Police officers are also seen on the streets distributing face masks and sanitizers for free.

Despite the government’s decision to ease coronavirus measures, people are still hesitant and worried, as Turkey’s confirmed cases have reached more than 139,000, according to the Health Ministry.

SOURCE: PRESS TV