Iranians celebrate Nowruz festival amid COVID-19 outbreak

The novel coronavirus started sweeping major Iranian cities last month and has continued shrouding all the country as the Iranian new year approaches.

On Thursday, it was officially announced that 18,407 people in Iran have contracted the virus, of whom 1,284 have died.

Kianush Jahanpur, head of Public Relations and Information Center of Iran's health ministry, said Thursday that "based on the latest data available, 50 Iranians are being infected with the COVID-19 every hour."

"Also, in every 10 minutes, an Iranian dies from the disease," Jahanpur tweeted.

NOWRUZ ECLIPSED

Nowruz, the Iranian new year, falls on March 20 this year, but this joyous occasion is almost overshadowed by the torrent of news and measures about the novel coronavirus outbreak in the country.

Recently, Iranians are frequently advised to stay at home, put themselves in voluntary quarantine, and avoid unnecessary street walks and traveling in the new year holidays.

Despite reports of disregards to the authorities' warnings and people appeared on the streets for new year preparations, the retailers, confectionaries, airliners, transport services and hotel managers have complained about the negative impacts of the viral concerns.

Meanwhile, many people have decided to cancel the family reunions during the holidays.

As a tradition, younger members of families visit the elderly after the fall of the new year marking the start of spring.

However, many said that messaging and phone calls would be sufficient for the new year wishes this year.

Coupled with the warnings and people's compliance with the precautionary measures, the Iranian officials have taken steps to slow down the rampant pace of the disease.

DOMESTIC STEPS

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has said that his administration has no plan to quarantine any district or any city over COVID-19, but it would quarantine individuals.

Two weeks ago, Iranian health ministry announced the launch of a national plan to deal with the novel coronavirus outbreak in the country.

The move, called National Mobilization Plan to Combat COVID-19, was set to gather all the Iranian medical and health institutions as well as the Iranian voluntary forces under the rubric of the Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education.

On Tuesday, the Iranian health ministry announced that through implementing the plan, some 17 million people have been screened for the viral infection, out of whom nearly 4,000 have been hospitalized.

Earlier this month, Iran announced the closure of all educational institutions until April, and the cultural and sports events across the country were suspended until further notice.

The authorities have halted major weekly religious and political gathering of Friday prayers in urban centers across the country.

Iranian judiciary has freed over 70,000 prisoners across the country to prevent the spread of novel coronavirus in jails.

Iran's Supreme Council of Economic Coordination have made decisions to assist the country's small businesses as the outbreak of COVID-19 has partially damaged the country's economy.

On Tuesday, Iran announced the closure of shrines, which are scattered across the country and receive thousands of pilgrims every day, and advised people to avoid traveling to those places.

On the same day, Mostafa Qanei, the head of the scientific committee to combat COVID-19, said that the researchers of the country have produced a complex to heal the lesions in the lungs of the patients affected with the novel coronavirus.

The authorities on Wednesday launched screening operations on the inter-city roads and at the entrances of the cities and warned that people with the symptoms of COVID-19 infection will be stopped and forced to a quarantining process.