ISTANBUL — In Istanbul’s central Beyoglu district, residents could be seen enjoying meals in restaurants and drinks at local bars this week for the first time since venues were ordered shut in March under measures to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus.
On Monday, cafes and shops reopened and a ban on intercity travel was lifted as new COVID-19 cases have fallen steadily in recent weeks, prompting state officials to ease restrictions in to attempt to resume some sense of normalcy. Turkey dropped to 11th in worldwide case numbers and 17th in recorded deaths, according to data from John Hopkins University, as ongoing curfews on senior citizens and citizens under 20 years of age appear to be proving effective.