ANKARA - People will not be able to visit MPs and attend parties' parliamentary group meetings until the end of the month.

 

Turkey's parliament has barred visitors through March 31 as a precaution against coronavirus, the Parliament Speaker's Office announced today (March 13).

 

"During this period, the work of parliament will continue, and the parliamentary staff will carry out their duties," said the statement, adding that after March 31, the measure will be reevaluated.

 

It noted that parliament will also not accept any visitors for the weekly parliamentary group meetings.

 

The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) said in a separate statement that it will not accept visitors at parliamentary group meetings until further notice and that it canceled the next scheduled meeting on March 18.

 

Turkey this week confirmed its first two cases of COVID-19 ­– a man who traveled to Europe, and later a person close to the man – amid advisories to take necessary measures to avoid spreading the virus.

 

After originating in Wuhan, China last December, the novel coronavirus has spread to at least 114 countries.

 

The global death toll stands at nearly five thousand, with over 132 thousand confirmed cases.

 

This week the World Health Organization declared the outbreak a global pandemic.