The two-day curfew is covering 23 largest provinces by population as well as Zonguldak, where respiratory diseases are commonplace due to the coal mining.

During the curfew, public and private hospitals, all healthcare product manufacturers, pharmacies, nursing homes and shelters, bakeries, emergency call centers, designated gas stations and veterinary clinics, postal and cargo delivery companies, energy companies and animal shelters will remain operational.

In Gaziantep, one of the cities where the ban has been imposed, citizens woke up to a quiet morning. The city's busiest streets and squares are empty and silent.

Police have been patrolling the city, setting up checkpoints at several points while residents have stayed at home.

During the morning hours only people working in public and private institutions not covered by the ban were allowed to go to work.

ILKHA