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| Coronavirus: How Iran is battling a new wave of coronavirus | Coronavirus: How Iran is battling a new wave of coronavirus |
| (12 days later) | |
| Iran has seen a rapid surge in the numbers of coronavirus cases since mid-May, with daily recorded deaths reaching new highs. | |
| Iran started to relax its restrictions in mid-April after the number of infections declined, but some of these have now been re-imposed in the capital, Tehran. | |
| So what do we know about this new surge in Iran? | |
| How fast are deaths rising in Iran? | How fast are deaths rising in Iran? |
| Iran's daily reported death toll has been rising sharply in recent weeks. | Iran's daily reported death toll has been rising sharply in recent weeks. |
| In mid-June, deaths went above 100 - for the first time in two months. | In mid-June, deaths went above 100 - for the first time in two months. |
| This figure has been going up, reaching 229 dead on 21 July. | |
| New reported infections averaged more than 3,000 a day in the first week of June - a 50% increase on the previous seven days. | New reported infections averaged more than 3,000 a day in the first week of June - a 50% increase on the previous seven days. |
| This figure reached a high of 3,574 on 4 June, before dropping slightly. There have been more than 2,000 cases a day since then. | This figure reached a high of 3,574 on 4 June, before dropping slightly. There have been more than 2,000 cases a day since then. |
| The previous highest figure was 3,186 on 30 March - during the initial outbreak, when Iran became one of the worst affected countries outside China. | The previous highest figure was 3,186 on 30 March - during the initial outbreak, when Iran became one of the worst affected countries outside China. |
| And recently, President Rouhani said that government research estimated that as many 25 million Iranians may have been infected by the virus - that's much higher than the official total tally of cases. | |
| Why are Iran's numbers rising? | Why are Iran's numbers rising? |
| In April, Iran began to ease its restrictions as daily infections fell: | In April, Iran began to ease its restrictions as daily infections fell: |
| City transport systems across Iran, as well as banks and offices, have been packed with people. | City transport systems across Iran, as well as banks and offices, have been packed with people. |
| The epidemic was initially concentrated in Qom and the capital, Tehran. But now, a flare-up has been reported in the south-west, notably in Khuzestan province, an oil-rich region that borders Iraq. | The epidemic was initially concentrated in Qom and the capital, Tehran. But now, a flare-up has been reported in the south-west, notably in Khuzestan province, an oil-rich region that borders Iraq. |
| Officials have suggested the renewed surge in new cases could be down to more testing, and President Hassan Rouhani has said this means you will find more cases. | Officials have suggested the renewed surge in new cases could be down to more testing, and President Hassan Rouhani has said this means you will find more cases. |
| Iran's chief epidemiologist at the country's health ministry, Mohammad-Mehdi Gouya, explained: "The main reason for the rising numbers is that we have started identifying [infected people] who have no or mild symptoms." | Iran's chief epidemiologist at the country's health ministry, Mohammad-Mehdi Gouya, explained: "The main reason for the rising numbers is that we have started identifying [infected people] who have no or mild symptoms." |
| Iran has been increasing its testing, and had tested about one in every 38 people by 22 July, considerably more than it did at the start of the pandemic. | |
| But that's still less than the US or countries in Europe that have been hit by the virus. | But that's still less than the US or countries in Europe that have been hit by the virus. |
| The proportion of tests in Iran that return a positive result began to rise in late May and early June, reaching 14%. But since then it's stayed between nine and 10%. | The proportion of tests in Iran that return a positive result began to rise in late May and early June, reaching 14%. But since then it's stayed between nine and 10%. |
| That's about ten tests for each positive case. | That's about ten tests for each positive case. |
| The WHO has suggested at least 10 to 30 tests per positive case as a general benchmark for adequate testing, according to Our World in Data, which compiles coronavirus testing statistics. | |
| That means that at the moment, Iran may not be doing quite enough testing to find all cases. | That means that at the moment, Iran may not be doing quite enough testing to find all cases. |
| What about social distancing? | What about social distancing? |
| Health Minister Saeed Namaki said people were ignoring social distancing rules. | Health Minister Saeed Namaki said people were ignoring social distancing rules. |
| "People have become completely careless regarding this disease," he told the Iranian news agency. | "People have become completely careless regarding this disease," he told the Iranian news agency. |
| And a health ministry poll in June suggested only: | |
| What options do the authorities have? | What options do the authorities have? |
| During the initial outbreak, the Iranian authorities were criticised for their hesitation in closing down mosques and key religious sites, and for not moving quicker to introduce restrictions. | During the initial outbreak, the Iranian authorities were criticised for their hesitation in closing down mosques and key religious sites, and for not moving quicker to introduce restrictions. |
| The leadership in Iran cannot afford to continue restrictions because of the state of the economy, according to BBC Persian's Rana Rahimpour. | The leadership in Iran cannot afford to continue restrictions because of the state of the economy, according to BBC Persian's Rana Rahimpour. |
| She adds that it faces multiple challenges such as US sanctions, corruption and mismanagement. | She adds that it faces multiple challenges such as US sanctions, corruption and mismanagement. |
| However, President Rouhani has now told Iranians they must wear face masks on public transport and in crowded areas, and said where necessary, the police and security forces will enforce the rules. | However, President Rouhani has now told Iranians they must wear face masks on public transport and in crowded areas, and said where necessary, the police and security forces will enforce the rules. |
| And Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has called for action to stop the rising level of new infections, and criticised those who don't wear face masks. | And Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has called for action to stop the rising level of new infections, and criticised those who don't wear face masks. |
| On 18 July, the authorities in the capital, Tehran, announced restrictions were being temporarily re-imposed on some businesses and public gatherings, including wedding halls, coffee shops, tea houses, amusement parks and zoos. | |
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