LIFE
Date published: 21 March 2020 16:21
Modified On: 21 March 2020 17:10

As Older People Reluctant to Stay Home During Pandemic, Authorities Remove Park Benches

After İstanbul mayor complained that more than 100 thousand older people use public transport daily, a district municipality has removed park benches to discourage the elderly from going out during the pandemic.

İstanbul
As Older People Reluctant to Stay Home During Pandemic, Authorities Remove Park Benches

Photo: Üsküdar Municipality

Click to read the article in Turkish

People over 60 years of age are known to be at higher risk for the coronavirus. However, they have been reluctant to stay home during the pandemic so far, despite warnings by authorities.

Public transport usage statistics by İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality show that more than 200 thousand older people used public transport on Thursday (March 19). Though there has been a decrease from 600 thousand on March 11, the day Turkey confirmed its first coronavirus case.

In the Üsküdar district on the Asian side of the metropolis, the municipality took further measures today to discourage the elderly from going out by removing park benches throughout the district.

"We made our attitude clear to our uncles and aunts," Üsküdar Mayor Hilmi Türkmen said, advising the elderly to abide by the warnings and stay home.

Üsküdar Municipality also called on older people to stay home in a humorous tweet with a picture that shows a street dug by a dozer. "We love you, byt don't make us do this," the tweet said.

Turkey has confirmed 670 patients and nine deaths of Covid-19, with all the deceased people being 60 years old or older. (RT/VK)

İstanbul Üsküdar coronavirüs covid-19 covîd-19 pandemic coronavirus coronavirus outbreak
https://bianet.org/haber/as-older-people-reluctant-to-stay-home-during-pandemic-authorities-remove-park-benches-221756
2024-05-15 12:56:59