Iran imposes new curbs as COVID-19 toll rises

Iran, July 4

Iranians, who don’t put on masks, can be denied state providers and workplaces that fail to adjust to well being protocols can be shut for per week, President Hassan Rouhani mentioned on Saturday as he launched new measures to attempt to curb COVID-19 within the nation.

Iran has been battling the unfold of the virus, with the full variety of circumstances hitting 2,37,878 on Saturday and an additional 148 deaths bringing the nation’s toll to 11,408, Health Ministry spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari mentioned on state tv.

Wearing masks grew to become necessary from Sunday in coated public locations, Rouhani mentioned on state tv after harder curbs had been imposed in cities and cities in 5 provinces the place the outbreak is rising after an easing of lockdowns from mid-April.

“Government employees should not serve people who do not wear masks and employees who do not wear them should be considered absentees and sent home,” mentioned Rouhani.

Meanwhile, a authorities web site revealed pictures of President Hassan Rouhani, who isn’t seen sporting a masks, with a face protecting.

Those contaminated had a “religious duty” to inform others, Rouhani mentioned, including: “Keeping your infection a secret violates the rights of other people.”

The authorities has been attempting to persuade a reluctant public to simply accept masks and a week-long marketing campaign by state tv has been warning viewers that “Corona is not a joke”.

One TV presenter on the finish of each newscast places on her masks and says: “There is no one in my immediate three metres, but I wear a mask outside the studio. You, too, wear one.”

State media reported on Saturday that 19 Iranian soccer gamers from the nationwide Esteghlal and Foolad Khuzestan golf equipment had examined positive for the coronavirus.

Iran’s armed forces have additionally diminished their two-month primary fight coaching by a month till additional discover due to the elevated unfold of the coronavirus. Reuters