Turkey imposed weekend curfew in 31 cities amid coronavirus crisis

Turkey cracked down amid the coronavirus crisis by instituting a 48-hour curfew over the weekend in 31 cities, according to the Associated Press, which noted that many people on Friday flocked to stores following the curfew announcement.

There already was a curfew in place for people less than 20-years-old and more than 65-years-old, according to AP.

More than 1,100 people in Turkey have died since the first case was reported on March 11, AP reports. More than 52,000 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in the country.

"Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said more than 6,000 elderly have been fined and 149 more prosecuted nationwide for violating the age-related curfew, along with some 3,000 fines and 102 prosecutions for young people," the AP reported. "On Sunday, the ministry said 18,770 people had been penalized for breaching the weekend curfew."

Soylu on Sunday said via Twitter that his is resigning, according to U.S. News & World Report, which noted that "he was resigning from his post over the implementation of a two-day curfew in major Turkish cities to tackle the coronavirus outbreak."

The short-notice announcement prompted a run on markets and bakeries, local press reported.

"May my country, which I never wished to hurt, and our president, to whom I will be faithful all my life, forgive me," Soylu said in a statement according to AFP.