ISTANBUL, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday announced that a series of bans, which were previously imposed to curb the COVID-19 pandemic, would be lifted on June 1.

Turkey will lift restrictions on domestic travel and allow restaurants, cafes, parks, beaches, and sports facilities to reopen as of June 1, Erdogan said at a televised speech in Istanbul after attending a cabinet meeting via teleconference.

Daycare centers and kindergartens, libraries, as well as museums, will also be reopened from June 1, the Turkish leader said, adding that public personnel would also return to their jobs on the same date.

But the restriction on the movements of those aged over 65 and under 18 would continue, Erdogan added.

The government closed restaurants, cafes, bars, and other locations in mid-March when COVID-19 was first seen in the country, and imposed a ban on domestic travel in early April.

"If we see anything negative, we could reintroduce the restrictions," Erdogan said.

The death toll from the coronavirus in Turkey has climbed to 4,461 and the number of confirmed cases totaled 160,979, according to the latest figures announced by the Health Ministry on Thursday. Enditem

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