Turkey has entered its first full weekend lockdown since May after coronavirus infections and deaths hit record highs in recent days.

The country of 83 million people recorded 32,736 new cases, including asymptomatic ones, the highest number since the beginning of the pandemic in March, Reuters reported.

Turkish television showed largely empty squares and streets in the largest city Istanbul, the capital Ankara and the third largest city Izmir, with only a few people and vehicles out and about.

President Tayyip Erdogan announced the full weekend lockdown on Monday, as well as a curfew on weekdays. He said measures against the coronavirus were being taken carefully to minimise the impact on the economy.