Russia is temporarily suspending regular and charter flights with Turkey, Moscow announced Monday, Anadolu Agency reported.

The suspension over COVID-19 concerns will last from April 15 to June 1, said Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova.

Flights will resume if developments in the pandemic show a positive trend, she added, speaking at a video conference with other members of the government,

However, two regular flights per week between Istanbul and Moscow will continue service, from the Russian capital and then back again, she said.

Flight service home for Russian nationals working on the Akkuyu nuclear power plant project in the southern Turkish province of Mersin will also continue.

Russian authorities will closely follow the situation with COVID-19 in both Turkey and Tanzania and take steps as needed, she added.