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| Coronavirus: How is Iran responding to the outbreak? | Coronavirus: How is Iran responding to the outbreak? |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Iran has a growing number of coronavirus cases and there is concern about how the government is responding. | Iran has a growing number of coronavirus cases and there is concern about how the government is responding. |
| The country's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has said it won't impact the country for long, and will disappear. | The country's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has said it won't impact the country for long, and will disappear. |
| With the help of our colleagues in BBC Persian, we've been trying to piece together what is happening in Iran. | With the help of our colleagues in BBC Persian, we've been trying to piece together what is happening in Iran. |
| What action is being taken? | What action is being taken? |
| Iran has recorded the highest number of deaths outside China and a growing number of cases, but the true number is expected to be much higher. | Iran has recorded the highest number of deaths outside China and a growing number of cases, but the true number is expected to be much higher. |
| A World Health Organization (WHO) team has arrived in Iran to provide support. | A World Health Organization (WHO) team has arrived in Iran to provide support. |
| Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has said there are no plans to quarantine entire cities and towns. | Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has said there are 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. | |
| Some restrictions are now in place. Visits are only allowed once people had been given hand-sanitising gels, health information and face masks. | Some restrictions are now in place. Visits are only allowed once people had been given hand-sanitising gels, health information and face masks. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| "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 not one that they would 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. | 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. |
| In affected provinces schools and universities have been closed and Friday prayers in Tehran and several other cities were cancelled. Sports matches, gallery openings and film premieres were also called off. | In affected provinces schools and universities have been closed and Friday prayers in Tehran and several other cities were cancelled. Sports matches, gallery openings and film premieres were also called off. |
| 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 WHO is supplying Iran with diagnostic kits and protective equipment for healthcare workers. |
| 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. | 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. |
| The health authorities have announced that 300,000 teams will be doing door-to-door testing. | The health authorities have announced that 300,000 teams will be doing door-to-door testing. |
| But many Iranians are worried about a lack of 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. | 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. | "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. |
| 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. | Local reports also suggest Chinese companies have been purchasing 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 now said it has banned the export of face masks for three months and ordered factories to ramp up production. |
| Arrests for 'spreading rumours' | Arrests for 'spreading rumours' |
| Iranian police have arrested 24 people accused of spreading rumours about the coronavirus online, AFP news agency reports. | Iranian police have arrested 24 people accused of spreading rumours about the coronavirus online, AFP news agency reports. |
| A further 118 internet users were "talked to and let go" with warnings, the head of Iran's cyberpolice force Vahid Majid said. | A further 118 internet users were "talked to and let go" with warnings, the head of Iran's cyberpolice force Vahid Majid said. |
| More on the coronavirus outbreak | More on the coronavirus outbreak |
| Are people leaving the country? | Are people leaving the country? |
| Iran has not banned foreign travel, but neighbouring countries including Turkey, Pakistan and Iraq have closed their borders. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |
| This piece has been updated to reflect the latest fatalities and cases. | This piece has been updated to reflect the latest fatalities and cases. |
| Read more from Reality Check | Read more from Reality Check |
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