As part of the government’s efforts to reduce COVID-19 transmission, the Ministry of Interior circular dated November 12 has mandated a ban on smoking in crowded public open spaces throughout Turkey.
Please recall that at Bilkent, the University Senate had decided that a minimum distance of 2.5 meters should be maintained between individuals in the designated smoking areas on campus. It has recently been observed that this 2.5-meter rule is frequently being violated.
Mask-free socializing is the number one cause of everyday virus transmission. When that is coupled with smoking, virus transmission rates increase.
The continued use of smoking areas on campus is contingent upon strict observation of the 2.5-meter rule in those areas.