Istanbul, Sultanahmet empty due to coronavirus

Fear of coronavirus leaves Istanbul streets deserted

The fear of contagion by the coronavirus after the appearance of the first cases in Turkey last week, and the closure of bars, cafes, cinemas and other public and leisure places decreed by the government, which also recommends to citizens avoid going out, has left emblematic places of Istanbul such as Sultanahmet Square, Beşiktaş, Taksim Square or Ortaköy almost deserted, with hardly any people on the streets and with an unusually smooth traffic in the city.