Iran: Authorities to tighten COVID-19 restrictions in 25 provinces November 4 /update 40

Event

President Hassan Rouhani announced that new restrictions will be in place for ten days from Wednesday, November 4, in 25 of the country's 31 provinces due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. The new restrictions will include the closure of mosques, libraries, universities, and schools.

Additionally, authorities in Tehran announced that the closure of teahouses, libraries, fitness clubs, beauty salons, and cinemas will also be extended for another week. Schools, mosques, non-essential shops, restaurants, and other public establishments in the capital have been closed since October 3. On Saturday, October 31, Rouhani announced that conferences, weddings, and wakes will also be prohibited in Tehran until further notice. The restrictions have been imposed as Tehran has the highest infection rate in the country. The wearing of face masks whilst outdoors is mandatory and enforced by a fine. Businesses in the city have been prohibited from offering services to those who are not wearing a mask.

As of Sunday, November 1, there have been 612,772 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Iran with 34,864 associated fatalities. Further international spread of the virus is to be expected in the near term.

Context

The first case of COVID-19 was reported on December 31 and the source of the outbreak has been linked to a wet market in Wuhan (Hubei province, China). Since then, human-to-human transmission of the virus has been confirmed.

Cases of the virus have been confirmed in numerous countries and territories worldwide. On March 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the global outbreak a pandemic. Virus-screening and quarantining measures are being implemented at airports worldwide, as well as extensive travel restrictions.

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, dry cough, and tiredness. Some patients may experience other symptoms such as body pains, nasal congestion, headache, conjunctivitis, sore throat, diarrhea, loss of taste or smell or a rash on skin or discoloration of fingers or toes. These symptoms (in most cases mild) appear gradually. Generally, most patients (around 80 percent) recover from the disease without being hospitalized.

Advice

Measures adopted by local authorities evolve quickly and are usually effective immediately. Depending on the evolution of the outbreak in other countries, authorities are likely to modify, at very short notice, the list of countries whose travelers are subject to border control measures or entry restrictions upon their arrival to the territory in question. It is advised to postpone nonessential travel due to the risk that travelers may be refused entry or be subject to quarantine upon their arrival or during their stay.

To reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission, travelers are advised to abide by the following measures:

• Frequently clean hands by applying an alcohol-based hand rub or washing with soap and water.
• When coughing and sneezing, cover mouth and nose with a flexed elbow or tissue; if used, throw the tissue away immediately and wash hands.
• If experiencing a fever, cough, difficulty breathing, or any other symptoms suggestive of respiratory illness, including pneumonia, call emergency services before going to the doctor or hospital to prevent the potential spread of the disease.