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Coronavirus: How is Iran responding to the outbreak? Coronavirus: How is Iran responding to the outbreak?
(8 days later)
Iran has a growing number of coronavirus cases and there is concern about how the government is responding. Iran has announced that its security forces are to clear city streets in a bid to tackle the coronavirus outbreak.
The country's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has said the virus won't impact the country for long and will disappear. The country has one of the highest number of cases outside China, and there's been concern about how the government is responding.
With the help of our colleagues in BBC Persian, we've been trying to piece together what is happening in Iran. The country's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said earlier this month that the virus wouldn't impact the country for long and would disappear.
What action is being taken? With the help of our colleagues in BBC Persian, we've been trying to piece together what measures Iran has taken so far.
Iran has recorded one of the highest death tolls outside China and a growing number of cases, although it's believed the official figures could underestimate the total number of victims. What action has been taken?
The authorities are now limiting travel between major cities by setting up checkpoints, and halting Friday prayers in urban centres across the country. There are fears that the true scale of the outbreak in Iran is worse than is being disclosed.
They've already closed schools and universities until early April, and officials have suspended large cultural and sports events and have reduced working hours. In February, the authorities started limiting travel between major cities by setting up checkpoints, and halting Friday prayers in urban centres.
A World Health Organization (WHO) team has arrived in Iran to provide support. They've already closed schools and universities until early April, and officials have suspended large cultural and sports events and reduced working hours.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has said there are no plans to quarantine entire cities and towns. But Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said there were no plans to quarantine entire cities and towns.
In Qom, the holy city at the centre of the outbreak, religious shrines are still open, and the most revered, the Hazrat Masumeh shrine, is visited by millions of Shia Muslim pilgrims every year. In Qom, the holy city at the centre of the outbreak, religious shrines remain open including the most revered, the Hazrat Masumeh shrine, visited by millions of Shia Muslim pilgrims every year.
Some restrictions are now in place. Visits are only allowed once people had been given hand-sanitising gels, health information and face masks. However, the authorities in Qom have now closed the city to further pilgrims and ordered hotels not to accept more guests.
People have been advised to avoid unnecessary gatherings, and asked not to travel to Qom, but there is no closure of religious sites in the city. Some officials, including the vice-speaker of Iran's parliament and former Health Minister Massoud Pezeshkian, have criticised the government for its slow response.
The custodian of the Hazrat Masumeh shrine has said that people see it as a source of recovery and healing so it cannot be shut down. "We should have quarantined Qom from day one... this disease is not a joke, which is the way we are dealing with it."
"Shutting the shrines would be a huge step for the clerics and not one that they would be likely to take unless they come under international pressure," says Rana Rahimpour, of BBC Persian. "Shutting the shrines would be a huge step for the clerics and one that they would not be likely to take unless they come under international pressure," says Rana Rahimpour, of BBC Persian.
Police in Tehran have banned the use of shisha water pipes in coffee shops and tea houses. These are often smoked communally and passed from person to person. Iran has also released tens of thousands prisoners in what it says is a bid to contain the spread of the virus in Iranian jails.
What about New Year celebrations?
Iranian officials are now concerned about the spread of the virus during the upcoming national Nowruz holiday - Iran's new year - later in March.
It lasts at least 10 days, and thousands of Iranians visit the Caspian Sea and other parts of the country for family holidays.
As the celebrations approach, local officials in many provinces have closed entry routes in order to stop visitors.
Plans for a Nowruz speech by the country's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, have been dropped on the advice of health officials.
Does Iran have enough medical equipment?Does Iran have enough medical equipment?
The WHO is supplying Iran with diagnostic kits and protective equipment for healthcare workers. The World Health Organization (WHO) has sent Iran diagnostic kits and protective equipment for healthcare workers, including 7.5 tonnes of medical supplies.
It says it is sending 7.5 tonnes of medical supplies to support 15,000 healthcare workers and 1,000 screening kits capable of screening nearly 100,000 people. A WHO team that has just completed a visit to Iran says although progress has been made in expanding testing and in other important areas, more work needs to be done.
The health authorities have announced that 300,000 teams will be doing door-to-door testing. Many Iranians are worried about a lack of medical equipment.
But many Iranians are worried about a lack of equipment.
An Iranian medical importer has said he is unable to purchase testing kits due to US-imposed sanctions, according to local reports.
"Many international companies are ready to supply Iran with coronavirus test kits, but we can't send them money," said Ramin Fallah, a board member of Iran's Association of Medical Equipment Importers was quoted as saying by the Ilna news agency.
The US has denied that its sanctions are restricting Iran's ability to import medical supplies, pointing to an exemption for humanitarian goods.The US has denied that its sanctions are restricting Iran's ability to import medical supplies, pointing to an exemption for humanitarian goods.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said the US would offer humanitarian assistance to Iran to help cope with the virus.Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said the US would offer humanitarian assistance to Iran to help cope with the virus.
But Iran says companies find it difficult to process payments with banks unwilling to risk breaking US rules and risk sanctions themselves.But Iran says companies find it difficult to process payments with banks unwilling to risk breaking US rules and risk sanctions themselves.
The government said it's now approaching the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for emergency assistance amounting to $5bn.
The Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said Iran wanted access to the funds immediately.
What about face masks?What about face masks?
As in other countries with outbreaks, Iranians have been queuing up at pharmacies to purchase medical masks as well as disinfectant gels and sprays.As in other countries with outbreaks, Iranians have been queuing up at pharmacies to purchase medical masks as well as disinfectant gels and sprays.
Prices of these products, where they're available at all, have gone up by as much as 10 times.Prices of these products, where they're available at all, have gone up by as much as 10 times.
Some on social media have claimed the reason behind the lack of availability of masks is due to the fact that millions were donated to China a few weeks ago.Some on social media have claimed the reason behind the lack of availability of masks is due to the fact that millions were donated to China a few weeks ago.
According to the Irna news agency, Iran donated three million face masks to China "as sign of long-term and traditional friendship between two countries".According to the Irna news agency, Iran donated three million face masks to China "as sign of long-term and traditional friendship between two countries".
Local reports also suggest Chinese companies have been purchasing huge quantities of masks from Iran creating a shortage in the domestic market. But there were also reports that Chinese companies have bought huge quantities of masks from Iran creating a shortage in the domestic market.
The Iranian government has now said it has banned the export of face masks for three months and ordered factories to ramp up production. The Iranian government has said it has banned the export of face masks for three months and ordered factories to ramp up production.
Are people leaving the country?
Iran has not banned foreign travel, but neighbouring countries including Turkey, Pakistan and Iraq have closed their borders.
Turkey and United Arab Emirates have suspended flights from Iran.
These are important destinations for non-oil exports and Iran's economy could suffer as a result.
The Iranian government said flights to China were suspended on 2 February, but flight records suggest there have been at least nine flights between Iran and China since then.
There've also been reports that the Iranian authorities have arrested people accused of spreading rumours about the coronavirus online.
This piece has been updated to reflect the latest fatalities and cases.
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