Erdoğan marks Ramadan Bayram, urges social distancing amid COVID-19 pandemic

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan marked the upcoming Ramadan Bayram, also known as Eid al-Fitr, on Saturday, while urging compliance with the rules of social distancing and hygiene as the coronavirus pandemic continues.

“I congratulate the blessed Eid al-Fitr,” he said. “We all would love to be with our loved ones during such a time of festivity, like the previous years. Nevertheless, we will all have to spend this year’s Eid at home due to the coronavirus pandemic, which has affected the globe,” Erdoğan added.

Turkey on Saturday was already in the midst of a four-day nationwide lockdown during the holiday, which marks the end of Ramadan in the Islamic faith, between May 23-26 as part of measures against the coronavirus pandemic

“If we all abide by the rules of wearing masks, social distancing and hygiene, we will be sure to have left this period behind with success,” he concluded.

On Sunday, the president held a phone call with Defense Minister Hulusi Akar to get briefed on ongoing inspections in Hatay in areas near the Syrian border and extend Eid greetings to Turkish soldiers on duty.

Turkey "will not forget your heroic fight against terrorism in Operation Peace Spring, Afrin or Idlib," Erdoğan said, wishing all a happy and blessed bayram.

Turkey on Saturday confirmed 1,186 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total to 155,686, continuing the trend of low case numbers in recent days, according to ministry data posted on Twitter.
Recoveries from the disease hit 117,602 as 1,491 more patients were discharged from hospitals over the previous day, said Health Minister Fahrettin Koca.
The death toll from the outbreak rose to 4,308 Saturday as the country reported 32 new fatalities in the previous 24 hours.

Last week, Turkey reopened barbershops, beauty salons and shopping malls.