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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 announced that its security forces are to clear city streets in a bid to tackle the coronavirus outbreak. | |
The country has one of the highest number of cases outside China, and there's been concern about how the government is responding. | |
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. | |
With the help of our colleagues in BBC Persian, we've been trying to piece together what measures Iran has taken so far. | |
What action has been taken? | |
There are fears that the true scale of the outbreak in Iran is worse than is being disclosed. | |
In February, the authorities started limiting travel between major cities by setting up checkpoints, and halting Friday prayers in urban centres. | |
They've already closed schools and universities until early April, and officials have suspended large cultural and sports events and reduced working hours. | |
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 remain open including the most revered, the Hazrat Masumeh shrine, visited by millions of Shia Muslim pilgrims every year. | |
However, the authorities in Qom have now closed the city to further pilgrims and ordered hotels not to accept more guests. | |
Some officials, including the vice-speaker of Iran's parliament and former Health Minister Massoud Pezeshkian, have criticised the government for its slow response. | |
"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 one that they would not be likely to take unless they come under international pressure," says Rana Rahimpour, of BBC Persian. | |
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 World Health Organization (WHO) has sent Iran diagnostic kits and protective equipment for healthcare workers, including 7.5 tonnes of medical supplies. | |
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. | |
Many Iranians are worried about a lack of medical equipment. | |
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". |
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 said it has banned the export of face masks for three months and ordered factories to ramp up production. | |
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