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Turkey readies for 'new normal' after declaring success against coronavirus

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced that a raft of restrictions imposed to curb the outbreak will be lifted next week as the country’s infection and death rates fall sharply.
Four Seasons Sultanahmet Hotel staff members practice the service rules as they check the readiness of the hotel to the Healthy Tourism Certificate Program aims to convince travellers despite the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Istanbul, Turkey, May 21, 2020. Picture taken May 21, 2020. REUTERS/Umit Bektas - RC2QTG93W1FZ

ISTANBUL – Turkey is set to scrap a series of social-distancing restrictions imposed to curb the coronavirus outbreak, allowing for domestic travel to resume and a slate of businesses to reopen next week, as the rate of new infections and deaths slow dramatically, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday.

The government appears keen to kickstart the economy quickly after a two-month interruption of economic activity that has hit Turkish manufacturing and all but stalled its services sector.

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