Turkey’s mosques reopen, coronavirus regulations for elderly and youth remain

Fatih Municipality workers disinfect the Blue Mosque before its reopening. (AFP)

• People will only be allowed to perform midday, afternoon and Friday group prayers
• Individual prayers can be performed at the other times too

DUBAI: Turkish authorities have sanitized 11 mosques ahead of their reopenings on Friday, English-language daily Hurriyet Daily News reported.
People will only be allowed to perform midday, afternoon and Friday group prayers for now, but individuals can pray at other times.
The Interior Ministry has also sent a circular to 81 provinces regarding the reopening of mosques, which have been closed since March 19.
Meanwhile, the health minister Fahrettin Koca said restrictions for people over 65 and under 20 years will take “a little more” to ease.
“My young friends, the curfew lifted tonight. Unfortunately, this does not include you 15-20-year-olds, adults over 65 or children under 14 for now. I ask you to be patient, to give us some more time,” he said on Twitter on May 26.
Intercity trains resumed operations on Thursday, running at half capacity and without price increases.
“Passengers showing COVID-19 symptoms during the trip will be taken to isolation compartments on the trains and handed over to health officials at the first appropriate station,” transport minister Adil Karaismailoglu said.
But an inter-city travel ban, in force since April 3, will remain for now and might be lifted as of June 3.