Coronavirus: at the arrival of the Persian New Year, Tehran fears an increase in contamination

Text by: Siavosh Ghazi

As the number of people infected with coronavirus increased by 35%, from 3,500 to 4,780 people, and the death toll from 107 to 124, authorities have announced new measures to limit the movement of people through the country.

Publicity

From our correspondent in Tehran,

Authorities have banned entry into two northern Iranian provinces on the Caspian Sea. After announcing the closure of schools and universities for a month, the Minister of Health had expressly asked the Iranians to avoid traveling across the country.

But many Tehranese have taken the road to the Caspian Sea, a traditional destination for Iranians during holidays or long weekends.

Similar measures have been taken in other provinces as well, notably that of Qazvin, located in northwest Iran. Authorities in several provinces have also announced that no services will be provided to tourists during New Year's holidays to prevent travel.

The Iranian authorities fear indeed a spread of the epidemic during the holidays of Iranian New Year which will begin on March 20.

The Minister of Health said that travel must be cut by 60% to contain the spread of the epidemic. But every year, during the New Year, tens of millions of Iranians move across the country.

There is therefore great fear of seeing an increase in the number of people affected and those who died with the arrival of the Iranian New Year holidays.

► Read also: Coronavirus: the epidemic continues to spread in Iran, which frees prisoners

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