Iran to further ease restrictions as COVID-19 spread slows down

Iranian health officials announced on Monday that the pace of infection with COVID-19 in Iran has slowed down over the past days.

Iraj Harirchi, Iranian Deputy Minister of Health and Medical Education, said that new cases of the novel coronavirus and deaths have been declining across most of the country's provinces compared with the situation in the past weeks, state TV reported.

With the beginning of the slowdown trend in the number of infections and fatalities, the authorities consider to further ease restrictions on social life.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said that the ban on inter-province travels placed to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus will be lifted on April 20, as Iran's daily infections decline, Financial Tribune daily reported on Monday.

During a meeting of the National Headquarters for Managing and Fighting the coronavirus, Rouhani said that restrictions on road trips across Iran's 31 provinces will be removed and low-risk businesses in the capital Tehran will resume activities later in April.

Following a decision by the Iranian authorities, all the low-risk business activities have reopened across the country except in Tehran since April 11.

The scheme allows some workplaces to reopen if they commit to complying with strict protocols of "a smart social distancing" introduced by the Health Ministry.

"The government is planning to make a decision on high-risk businesses" which requires mass gatherings, including gymnasiums, cinemas, beauty salons and stadiums as well, Rouhani added.

"High-risk businesses will resume work after careful analysis and planning," Rouhani was quoted as saying by Financial Tribune.

On Monday, Harirchi urged people to still remain at home and avoid any unnecessary trips, visits and shopping, despite the ease on social activities.

"Eighty percent of infected people have either little or no symptoms. These individuals can transmit the virus in society," Harirchi was quoted as saying by the state TV.

"Our efforts are aimed at identifying them in the early stages ... and to isolate those who have been in contact with such people," the official added.

Since the outbreak of COVID-19 in Iran on Feb. 19, a total of 73,303 cases have been reported, of whom 4,585 have died as of Monday.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)