Iran to Impose Stricter Restrictions and Fines as Coronavirus Surge Continues

The worsening coronavirus crisis, which deepened over the first few days of October, has led to calls for further restrictions to be imposed and lockdowns in a number of provinces. On October 3, Dr. Alireza Zali, director of the Tehran Coronavirus Taskforce, called for some businesses in the Iranian capital to be closed for a period of one week to break the chain of transmission. He asked Anooshirvan Bandpey, governor of Tehran province, to take decisive action to impose restrictions. This came after rumors in late September that President Rouhani had banned Bandpey from giving interviews because he objected to the governor’s calls for lockdowns. 

The areas of activity that Dr. Zali had in mind cover a wide range of businesses and public places, including schools, universities, seminaries, student dormitories, Friday Prayers congregations and prayer establishments, vocational schools, libraries, mosques, hairdressers, beauty salons, coffee shops, restaurants, indoor swimming pools and sports clubs, especially those for Judo, wrestling, karate and other contact sports. He also asked for a one-week ban on all social, cultural and religious ceremonies and gatherings.

Dr. Zali warned that if authorities failed to act, a rise in infections was likely. He predicted an increase in cases from between three and five times, and a rise in fatalities between 1.5 to three percent.

Authorities have followed up their decision to fine people who violate coronavirus health protocols with more specific plans. In a meeting with the chairmen of the National Coronavirus Taskforce committee, President Rouhani repeated the term “penalties” seven times. “Anybody who knows they are infected must not hide it,” he said. “Otherwise it is a violation. He must inform his family, his close friends and his workplace. If we are going to impose penalties, this one is top of the list. People who are infected but do not tell anybody and mix with people will have to pay a high penalty.” He added that the fine amount for those who failed to wear masks would be set in the next National Coronavirus Taskforce meeting.

Provinces Round-up

Tehran is not the only province preparing for restrictions and lockdowns. Isfahan and Kermanshah provinces are also facing lockdown.

Pointing out that a number of coronavirus infections and fatalities are surging in Kermanshah, Houshang Bazvand, governor of the province, reported that restrictions and lockdowns had been renewed and, agreeing with President Rouhani, stated that those who violate health protocols will be treated decisively. He said that, currently, 488 coronavirus patients are hospitalized in Kermanshah and predicted that the number could rise to 1,000.

Bazvand reiterated that the western Iranian province’s border with Iraq remains closed and, following a decision by the National Coronavirus Taskforce, there will be no ceremonies or processions to mark Arba’een, the 40th day of the martyrdom of Imam Hossein, which falls on October 8.

General Ali Akbar Javidan, commander of Kermanshah police, also warned the public that the border with Iraq is closed and asked Iranian pilgrims not to embark on a trip to Iraq to mark Arba’een.

Mohsen Aziminejad, president of Neishabur University of Medical Sciences, compared the number of coronavirus fatalities in the city with the lives lost during the eight-year war between Iran and Iraq in the 1980s. “The number of martyrs from Neishabur in the war was 2,300, meaning that every seven months 167 fighters from this city were martyred, but since the coronavirus outbreak in March, the number of fatalities in Neishabur has been 511, three times the number of those who were killed in the war each month,” he said. According to him, currently 102 Covid-19 patients were hospitalized in the city.

Isfahan province is also in crisis. Behrouz Kalidari, vice president of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, compared the situation to a “coronavirus factory” that had to be shut down by any means necessary. In one week alone, 278 patients died in the province and, according to Kalidari, each day between 1,300 and 1,400 people are infected and close to 300 are hospitalized.

The city of Khomeini Shahr in Isfahan province plunged into crisis after mourning ceremonies to mark the martyrdom of Imam Hossein in August. It is now reported that 55 health workers in the city have been infected with coronavirus. They are being treated and some have recovered.

Mohammad Sohrabi, head of Hamedan Education Bureau’s Public Relations Office, announced that all schools in the province will be closed for one week.

In her daily briefing for October 3, the health ministry spokeswoman Dr. Sima Sadat Lari announced the official coronavirus statistics for the last 24 hours.

Dr. Lari also reported that, out of 31 Iranian provinces currently 30 provinces are in a high state of alert.     

This is part of IranWire's coronavirus chronology. Read the full chronology