Turkey's restaurants, cafes to close earlier to curb COVID-19 pandemic
Xinhua
1604490893000

File Photo: Agencies.

ISTANBUL, Nov. 4 (Xinhua) -- Businesses, including restaurants and cafes, across Turkey will be closed at 10:00 p.m. local time starting from Wednesday to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The decision was made on Tuesday by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the capital Ankara following a cabinet meeting.

The Turkish leader added that swimming pools, hairdressers, wedding venues, cinemas, concert halls, and similar places would also close their doors at the time.

Following this statement, various restaurants and bars in the country's biggest city Istanbul have announced the new working hours through their social media accounts.

"Since we will close early, our service will start at 3:00 p.m.," Serhat Saymadi, owner of Kadim Meyhane, a restaurant in the Beyoglu district, said at a post. The restaurant used to be filled with frequenters until early morning hours.

Istanbul sees 40 percent of all the COVID-19 cases in the country, according to the health ministry.

On Tuesday, the total number of COVID-19 patients in Turkey climbed by 2,343 to 382,118, while the death toll rose to 10,481 after 79 new fatalities were added.