Turkey eases stay-at-home measures for over-65s, under-18s

Turkey will relax stay-at-home measures for people over 65 years old and those under 18, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on June 9.

Around 7.5 million over-65s will now be able to go out every day from 10 am to 8 pm, Erdoğan said, relaxing a measure that had almost entirely forbidden them from going outside since March 21.

A similar prohibition imposed on under-18s on April 4 was also lifted, with the condition that young people still have to be with their parents when they are out, Erdoğan said.

Turkey has eased most of the restrictions brought in to stem the virus -- from reopening restaurants to allowing mass prayers at mosques -- but the president warned citizens must still wear masks outside and keep social distancing.

"We need to get ourselves used to the reality that the new normal will continue for a while more," he said.

Erdoğan said cinemas and theatres would reopen from July 1.

The president also said that the Turkish government will provide incentives to boost employment and support the industry to maintain export- and production-oriented growth to revive an economy hit by the coronavirus pandemic.

Turkish scientists produce drug for COVID-19 treatment

Erdoğan announced that Turkish scientists successfully produced the drug Favipiravir, which is used in treating COVID-19.

"After the registration process of our Health Ministry is completed, the drug will be available," he said.

The drug was produced by scientists with the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBİTAK), Erdoğan added.

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