Iran Welcomes Ramadan amid Fears of 'Fresh Outbreak' of Coronavirus
Iran
Asharq Al-Awsat
Iranian health officials raised fears of a "fresh outbreak" of coronavirus cases in the country as Ramadan began, just two weeks into a gradual reopening of shops. With an official death toll of 5,650, Iran has paid the deadliest price in the Middle East from the pandemic. Iranian authorities have in phases since April 11 allowed the reopening of a number of businesses that were closed as part of measures to curb the spread of the COVID-19 disease. Mosques, however, remained closed until further notice and authorities have ordered that iftar meals -- when extended family and friends traditionally gather to break their day-time fasts after sunset -- must be restricted to the immediate family. "We usually go to the mosque to pray, but not this time," said Ahmad Bakhchi, who sells religious goods at north Tehran's Tajrish Bazaar abutting the Imamzadeh-Saleh mosque, an important shrine that remains shuttered, AFP reported. "It makes us sad, but we have no other choice but to be patient," he told AFP. Fellow vendor Morad Ali Soleimani, whose nearby stall is stocked with kitchenware, said "closing the mosques was the right decision". "But when the virus subsides, they will have to reopen," he added, "they cannot remain closed... for too long". Health ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour said Iran has now recorded 89,328 cases of COVID-19, including 1,134 over the past 24 hours, since its first case in February. The number of Iranian casualties is widely thought to be much higher, however. Jahanpour reiterated that social distancing and hygiene measures to guard against the novel coronavirus needed to remain in place.
from Asharq AL-awsat https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2253241/iran-welcomes-ramadan-amid-fears-fresh-outbreak-coronavirus
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