This article is from the source 'washpo' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/iran-like-wider-mideast-relies-on-deliveries-amid-pandemic/2020/04/23/141b0c76-8546-11ea-81a3-9690c9881111_story.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=wp_world
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Iran, like wider Mideast, relies on deliveries amid pandemic | Iran, like wider Mideast, relies on deliveries amid pandemic |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| TEHRAN, Iran — For some $15 a day, deliverymen don masks and gloves in Iran’s capital to zip across its pandemic-subdued streets to drop off groceries and food for those sheltering at home from the virus. | TEHRAN, Iran — For some $15 a day, deliverymen don masks and gloves in Iran’s capital to zip across its pandemic-subdued streets to drop off groceries and food for those sheltering at home from the virus. |
| Like the wider Mideast, from skyscraper-studded Dubai to the narrow alleyways of Cairo, Iranians in cities rely on delivery for many of their daily supplies amid one of the world’s worst coronavirus outbreaks. | Like the wider Mideast, from skyscraper-studded Dubai to the narrow alleyways of Cairo, Iranians in cities rely on delivery for many of their daily supplies amid one of the world’s worst coronavirus outbreaks. |
| Those deliveries, coming as Muslims prepare for the holy fasting month of Ramadan, take on new importance for those receiving the goods and offer new risks for the couriers trying to make a living. | Those deliveries, coming as Muslims prepare for the holy fasting month of Ramadan, take on new importance for those receiving the goods and offer new risks for the couriers trying to make a living. |
| “I need a source of income and I take all the risks,” 23-year-old deliveryman Yaghoub Moradi said. | “I need a source of income and I take all the risks,” 23-year-old deliveryman Yaghoub Moradi said. |
| Iran, the Middle Eastern country hardest hit by the pandemic, on Thursday put its death toll from the virus at 5,481 out of more than 87,000 confirmed cases. State TV said there were 1,030 new cases and the death toll was 90 more than Wednesday. | Iran, the Middle Eastern country hardest hit by the pandemic, on Thursday put its death toll from the virus at 5,481 out of more than 87,000 confirmed cases. State TV said there were 1,030 new cases and the death toll was 90 more than Wednesday. |
| Iran already struggles under severe U.S. sanctions blocking the sale of its crude oil abroad, measures imposed after President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew America from Tehran’s nuclear deal with world powers in 2018. That has led to a monthslong period of increased tensions that have persisted through the pandemic. | Iran already struggles under severe U.S. sanctions blocking the sale of its crude oil abroad, measures imposed after President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew America from Tehran’s nuclear deal with world powers in 2018. That has led to a monthslong period of increased tensions that have persisted through the pandemic. |
| Now, the virus is striking the service sector and other industries that escaped the wrath of sanctions, economic analyst Mehdiyar Mostafaei told The Associated Press. For a nation already struggling with unemployment, that’s forced many into the gray market of gypsy cabs and on-demand delivery, using their own vehicles. | Now, the virus is striking the service sector and other industries that escaped the wrath of sanctions, economic analyst Mehdiyar Mostafaei told The Associated Press. For a nation already struggling with unemployment, that’s forced many into the gray market of gypsy cabs and on-demand delivery, using their own vehicles. |
| Shahin Daryani, a supermarket owner, told the AP that much of his sales come from phone orders. The demand has seen him hire four new couriers. | Shahin Daryani, a supermarket owner, told the AP that much of his sales come from phone orders. The demand has seen him hire four new couriers. |
| “My customers and I prefer to not see each other in the supermarket,” Daryani said. “If they stay at home, it could be great, even for me. No contact, no virus outbreak.” | “My customers and I prefer to not see each other in the supermarket,” Daryani said. “If they stay at home, it could be great, even for me. No contact, no virus outbreak.” |
| Iran on Monday reopened intercity highways and major shopping centers to stimulate its sanctions-choked economy, gambling that it has brought under control its coronavirus outbreak, even as some fear it could lead to a second wave of infections. That fear has led those who can stay inside to rely on deliveries. | Iran on Monday reopened intercity highways and major shopping centers to stimulate its sanctions-choked economy, gambling that it has brought under control its coronavirus outbreak, even as some fear it could lead to a second wave of infections. That fear has led those who can stay inside to rely on deliveries. |
| With so many staying home, the internet taxi service Snapp, the Iranian app that resembles Uber, has seen a drop off in demand. | With so many staying home, the internet taxi service Snapp, the Iranian app that resembles Uber, has seen a drop off in demand. |
| “Before the Nowruz (the Persian New Year), some 800,000 were active in (using) Snapp, but the virus cut 70 percent of them,” Snapp’s managing director, Jhubin Alaghband told the AP. | “Before the Nowruz (the Persian New Year), some 800,000 were active in (using) Snapp, but the virus cut 70 percent of them,” Snapp’s managing director, Jhubin Alaghband told the AP. |
| The pandemic, however, has seen a spike in demand for SnappFood, which organizes grocery store deliveries. Its orders have doubled to some 20,000 a day, Alaghband said. | The pandemic, however, has seen a spike in demand for SnappFood, which organizes grocery store deliveries. Its orders have doubled to some 20,000 a day, Alaghband said. |
| But the risk remains for couriers like Saeed Vatanparast. He said he worried while on his deliveries about contracting the virus by handling customers’ money or using his portable debit card machine to take payments. | But the risk remains for couriers like Saeed Vatanparast. He said he worried while on his deliveries about contracting the virus by handling customers’ money or using his portable debit card machine to take payments. |
| “God knows if they have the virus I can contract it and I can take the virus with me to other homes and customers.” he said. | “God knows if they have the virus I can contract it and I can take the virus with me to other homes and customers.” he said. |
| Most people who become infected experience mild to moderate symptoms. But the virus can cause severe illness and lead to death, particularly among older people and those with underlying health problems. It is highly contagious. | Most people who become infected experience mild to moderate symptoms. But the virus can cause severe illness and lead to death, particularly among older people and those with underlying health problems. It is highly contagious. |
| Egypt’s highest religious authority, Grand Mufti Shawki Allam, said Thursday that healthy Muslims have a religious obligation to fast during the holy month of Ramadan despite the global pandemic. | Egypt’s highest religious authority, Grand Mufti Shawki Allam, said Thursday that healthy Muslims have a religious obligation to fast during the holy month of Ramadan despite the global pandemic. |
| “After consulting with medical experts in the midst of the current pandemic, we affirm that fasting has no negative effect on (healthy) people,” said Allam in a video posted on Facebook. | “After consulting with medical experts in the midst of the current pandemic, we affirm that fasting has no negative effect on (healthy) people,” said Allam in a video posted on Facebook. |
| Allam said the elderly and those with underlying medical conditions should follow their doctors’ advice on whether they could fast. | Allam said the elderly and those with underlying medical conditions should follow their doctors’ advice on whether they could fast. |
| “As to coronavirus patients, they are the most eligible to break their fast,” he said. | “As to coronavirus patients, they are the most eligible to break their fast,” he said. |
| Egypt’s government has so far confirmed more than 3,890 cases of the novel coronavirus, including 287 fatalities. The government has banned gatherings, including congregational prayers at mosques. The Cabinet announced on Thursday that the nightly curfew will begin at 9 p.m. instead of 8 p.m. as of Friday, the first day of the holy month of Ramadan, when Muslims fast from dawn to dusk. | |
| Also, shopping malls in Egypt, which were allowed only to work on weekdays until 5 p.m., will be reopened on weekends too. The scaled back curfew hours will likely not allow people to hold large gatherings for iftar, the meal with which the faithful break the daytime fasting, except within the privacy of their homes. | |
| ___ | ___ |
| Associated Press writers Mehdi Fattahi and Nasser Karimi in Tehran, Iran; Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Noha ElHennawy in Cairo and Isabel DeBre contributed to this report. | |
| Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. | Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. |