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Mayors, scientists call for lockdown as COVID-19 cases pass 74,000 in Turkey

The mayors of 11 Turkish cities and scientists tracking the coronavirus pandemic in Turkey say a full lockdown is needed in urban areas to avoid an exponential rise in new infections.
A woman and her dog look out from the window of their home as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues in Istanbul, Turkey, April 15, 2020. REUTERS/Umit Bektas - RC235G9RI3TN

ISTANBUL — A growing number of politicians and scientists are calling on the Turkish government to impose a full lockdown on urban areas to stem the spread of COVID-19 as the nation recorded 74,193 confirmed cases with 1,643 virus-linked deaths Thursday.

Eleven mayors with the opposition Republican People’s Party issued a joint statement today requesting a long-term “curfew or full isolation” be imposed on urban residents to avoid the exponential growth of new infections.

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