Iran Calls for Limited Use of Paper Money over Virus, Toll Rises

Iran

March 5th, 10:58am

Asharq Al-Awsat

Iranian people wear protective masks to prevent contracting a coronavirus, as they climb an escalator in Tehran, Iran February 29, 2020. WANA (West Asia News Agency)/Nazanin Tabatabaee via REUTERS

Iran’s health minister on Thursday encouraged the public to reduce its use of paper money as it is aiding the spread of the new coronavirus, and said authorities will begin manning checkpoints to limit travel between the country’s major cities. Saeed Namaki said schools and universities will remain closed until early April. In the announcement he made during a televised news conference, the minister said people should stay in their vehicles at gas stations and allow attendants to fill their gas tanks to avoid the spread of the COVID-19 virus. "People should not consider this as an opportunity to go traveling. They should stay home and take our warnings seriously," Namaki told the conference. He said the virus has killed 107 people amid 3,513 confirmed cases. Iran and Italy have the world’s highest death tolls outside of China, where the virus first appeared in December.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2164251/iran-calls-limited-use-paper-money-over-virus-toll-rises