The announcement of this decision, only few hours before the shutdown, caused a complete chaos especially in the city of Istanbul where more than 20 million live. Instead of organizing and educating to respect the social distancing and safe shopping, such an announcement caused the people to disregard any safety or precaution and rush to the grocery stores, pharmacies, and other shops where they were literally on top of each other to but bread, medicine and other needs. However, since the announcement came late at night, many stores were closed and this caused more panic.
Without giving enough time for people to prepare, Turkish interior Ministry suddenly declared curfew for 31 cities.
Most of the largest cities and those that have the most COVID-19 cases are included in this sudden curfew.
The announcement of this decision, only few hours before the shutdown, caused a complete chaos especially in the city of Istanbul where more than 20 million live. Instead of organizing and educating to respect the social distancing and safe shopping, such an announcement caused the people to disregard any safety or precaution and rush to the grocery stores, pharmacies, and other shops where they were literally on top of each other to but bread, medicine and other needs. However, since the announcement came late at night, many stores were closed and this caused more panic.
The decision has already become the joke of the day in social media with criticism of this unorganized and obviously, a last-minute show of the Turkish government to cover its unsuccessful and fruitless efforts in the fight against the pandemic.
After all preventive and safety measures were broken by a panicked people, the Interior Minister Soylu was forced to come out and try to calm the situation. “There is no need for any fuss,” he declared “I understand that many shops were closed when we made the announcement and it is only natural that people will rush to those open stores. But still there is no need to rush, as tomorrow the bakeries will be open, and they will distribute bread with their own vehicles. But of course, everybody already has enough groceries in their homes anyway. There is also no need to wonder if the curfew will continue past Sunday. Some are saying this in the social media, it is not true. The markets will be closed but selling water and bakeries will be open. This rush will cease in half an hour.”
Soylu failed to explain how people may get their water or other needs from shops that will be open during curfew if they were not allowed to leave home.
Sendika.org news (M.B.)