Istanbul restricts indoor weddings as Covid-19 cases soar

Indoor ceremonies will be restricted from Monday in an effort to curb the spread of infection

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks with people at a taxi station in Istanbul. AP

Authorities in Istanbul announced curbs on weddings and other ceremonies after the number of daily coronavirus cases and deaths reached their highest level nationwide in more than two months.

From Monday, indoor weddings, engagement parties and circumcision ceremonies will be banned, Istanbul's governor's office said.

Children and people aged over 60 will be barred from outdoor ceremonies, it said.

The restrictions were published a few hours before Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said 1,549 new cases of coronavirus were reported in Turkey on Saturday, the highest daily tally since mid-June. Thirty-nine people died, the most since mid-May, he said.

"The number of patients in serious condition continues to increase," Mr Koca tweeted.

"We cannot be relaxed about following the measures" to curb the outbreak, he said.