<p>NYON, Switzerland — The Champions League final in Istanbul on May 29 should not be affected by a near three-week lockdown in Turkey to curb COVID-19 cases, UEFA said on Thursday.</p>
<p>Turkey has imposed a <a href="https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-europe-lifestyle-religion-coronavirus-ca043557c4cccf041af64c7f9c281778">“full lockdown” from Thursday evening</a> which ends on May 17 after the holy month of Ramadan ends and the Eid holiday is celebrated. </p>
<p>The government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also aims to slow infection rates ahead of the summer tourism season that Turkey’s economy relies on.</p>
<p>UEFA hopes fans traveling from outside Turkey will be among “a limited number of spectators” attending European soccer’s showpiece game at the 76,000-seat Atatürk Olympic Stadium.</p>
<p>Turkish authorities have “assured that the temporary lockdown which is in force until 17 May should not have any impact on the match,” UEFA said in a statement.</p>
<p>Istanbul is hosting the Champions League final one year after it was originally scheduled. The 2020 final was moved to Lisbon as part of an August mini-tournament in the Portuguese capital from the quarterfinals. </p>
<p>Turkey’s death toll from COVID-19 during the pandemic was nearing 40,000 on Thursday. The highest daily number of 362 deaths was recorded last week on April 21.</p>
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