Data from Turkey's Health ministry on Saturday showed the country had recorded 62,606 new coronavirus cases in the space of 24 hours, among them 2,973 symptomatic patients.

The figure is very close to its highest daily tally of 62,797 recorded on Wednesday, and the cumulative figure stands at 4,212,645 confirmed cases.

Turkey currently ranks fourth globally in the number of daily cases based on a seven-day average, according to a Reuters tally.

The ministry also reported 288 fatalities taking its overall death from COVID-19 to 35,608.

On Tuesday, President Tayyip Erdogan announced several new restrictions and a partial lockdown for the first two weeks of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan to contain the surge in infections.

The weekday curfew now lasts from 7 p.m. (moved forward from 9 p.m.) to 5 a.m., during which inter-city travel will also be banned, except in emergency cases. Weekend curfews will also continue in high-risk cities.

Cafes and restaurants will only be allowed to delivery and takeout services, while wedding halls, sports centres, and game halls will remain shut until the end of Ramadan.

Turkey has administered more than 19 million coronavirus vaccine shots since it began its mass vaccination campaign in mid-January.

(With input from Reuters)