Iran’s health minister has warned that the country faces a doubling of its daily rate of coronavirus (COVID-19) deaths if Iranians don’t abide by rules brought in to stem the spread of the disease.
“This is the last chance for our health system to recover, if people fall short we will lose the game and reach four-digit death figures ...and that is an abyss from which it is difficult to escape,” Saeed Namaki said, state media reported.
Almost every day by now is bringing dire new official records in coronavirus infections and deaths in Iran. New infections rose by a record 13,421 in the latest recorded 24-hour period, taking the cumulative total to 801,894, the health ministry said on November 18. The daily death toll was a near-record 480, taking the overall number of virus deaths so far to 42,941. Observers say the unofficial picture, taking into account infections and deaths that go unrecorded, may be far worse.
The government said stricter restrictions to battle the pandemic would be imposed in Tehran and some 100 other cities and towns from November 21. Non-essential businesses and services would be shut or seriously curtailed and cars would not be allowed to enter or leave those localities.
Police said the ban on cars leaving or entering provincial capitals would go into effect as early as November 19.
Related Articles
Iran prohibits transfer of banking payment instruments to third parties
Iran has banned the transfer or permission to use bank deposits and other payment instruments, mobile banking and internet banking services belonging to customers to third parties, under executive ... more
UN says Iran aid budget needs to double post-war as Afghan exodus increases
Stefan Priesner is the UN resident coordinator in Tehran, the UN's most senior official in the country, has said the organisation's humanitarian and development aid budget to the country would need ... more
Iran casts doubt on fragile ceasefire with Israel, warns of renewed response
Iran’s recently-installed Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, Abdolrahim Mousavi, has voiced strong doubts over Israel’s commitment to the ceasefire that ended the recent 12-day war, warning that ... more
Most Read
-
Putin to skip Rio BRICS summit over ICC warrant as Xi signals no-show
10 days ago
-
Turkey yet to prove rare earth deposit has suggested “giant” potential despite reported processing talks with China
10 months ago
-
Uproar in Mongolia as development bank reveals scale of risky loans and NPLs
3 years ago