Gov’t set to ready ‘normalization plan’ for virus outbreak

The Turkish government is working on a "normalization plan" to gradually open the country's industries without "losing gains made," Vice President Fuat Oktay has told daily Hürriyet.

Oktay said that even though Turkey is showing a downward trend, it is still early to give good news ahead of Eid al-Fitr holiday, which follows the holy month of Ramadan.

"Our fight against the virus is continuing in a successful way. The downward trend has started. Our wish is that it gets to a more remarkable point in May. Our aim is to make the country more normal gradually without losing what we gained in this struggle," Oktay said.

The vice president also said that the government is planning on opening all sectors, including public and private ones, step by step.

"We are working with an integrated approach, by taking the Health Ministry and the [Coronavirus] Science Board's opinions into considerations," he said.

"We have neared the end. The road map needs to be regarded in phases. We should define it as a dynamic process," he said, adding that all data regarding the coronavirus will be assessed every day.

Not the usual normal

Oktay also said that the road map the government is working on will not make everything turn to absolute normal before the virus outbreak.

He underlined that under this definition of normal, the hygiene and social distancing rules will continue to be applied along with the mandatory use of masks in crowded places.

"The ones who give the service and the ones who receive it will be careful," he said.

He underlined that every workplace in all industries will abide by the rules and strict controls will be carried out.

Ready for all scenarios

The...