Coronavirus: partial resumption of economic activity in Tehran

A week after the reopening of economic activities in the provinces, the Iranian government authorized the resumption of activities in the capital, despite the fear of a relaunch of the coronavirus epidemic. The Covid-19 has killed more than 5,000 people in Iran, according to official figures announced in Tehran on Saturday.

Publicity

With our correspondent in Tehran , Siavosh Ghazi

Economic life resumed in Tehran a week after the provincial cities. This partial recovery takes place after a month of complete closure. For the past week, the numbers of people infected and dead have been falling.

Said, 56, who runs a laundry in northern Tehran, reopens his store with some concern: "  Our union has informed us that our business has gone from the risky ladder to the little risk scale. We were given the authorization to open and I am registered on the site of the Ministry of Health. I returned to work this morning. But we are worried, because there are different bells sounds. Some say the virus is gone, others say the epidemic can start again  . ” 

The fact remains that the authorization to resume economic activities does not concern everyone. Cafes, restaurants, sports and cultural centers, large shopping centers and the Tehran Bazaar remained closed.

Hossein, a 30-year-old shopkeeper who works in the Bazaar, had reopened his store, but the agents asked him to close again. He explains the economic damage: “  They tell us to close. Since the 29 esfand, we are closed. In the morning, Since the 29th of last month, the store is closed. It's been a month. We lost at least 30 to 40 million touman. Our goods have remained on our arms  ”. This dead loss represents around 2,000 euros, which is a lot for this trader.

The government, which is based on official figures of the decline in the number of infected and dead, has bet on a partial reopening of the economy, while asking the population to respect the instructions of distancing, which are not always respected.

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