Iran to restart 'low-risk' economic activities soon

Tehran has reported 58,226 infections but rates have slowed for five days

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani speaks during a meeting, as the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, in Tehran, Iran, April 5, 2020. Handout via REUTERS 

Iran said it would allow "low-risk" economic activities to resume from Saturday, April 11, as its daily coronavirus infection rates slowed for a fifth day in a row.

"Restarting these activities does not mean we have abandoned the principle of staying at home," President Hassan Rouhani said at a meeting of the anti-coronavirus task force.

The president, whose country has been battered by US sanctions, did not specify what qualified as "low-risk" activities, but said bans would remain on schools and large gatherings.

A gradual return of low-risk economic activity will be permitted from Saturday in the provinces and from April 18 in Tehran, Mr Rouhani said.

The coronavirus pandemic claimed another 151 lives over the past 24 hours in Iran, raising the country’s declared death toll to 3,603, health ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour said on Sunday.

Mr Jahanpour also reported 2,483 new cases of Covid-19 infection, compared to a record number of 3,111 new infections on March 31.

Iran, the Middle East country worst affected by the pandemic, has reported 58,226 infections, a figure that some foreign experts suspect is an underestimate.

After resisting a lockdown or quarantine measures, Iran imposed an intercity travel ban late last month.

Last Saturday should have marked a return to regular activity in Iran after a two-week holiday for the Persian New Year.

Mr Jahanpour criticised "those who think that the situation is normal now that the holidays are over, because it is not normal".

While some people in Tehran said they were reassured by the government's response, others remained fearful.

"There have been a lot of people out on the streets the last two days. It's terrifying," homemaker Zohreh said.

But Zahra Zanjani, another homemaker, said she believed the situation was under control.

"People are very respectful" of instructions from authorities, "and are taking great care", she said.

A retiree named Amir worried about the economic effects of the pandemic.

"People still have expenses to pay," Amir said.

"They can't stay at home. The government needs to support them financially."

In Isfahan, Iran's third largest city and tourism capital, teacher Samira, 35, said many people were ignoring advice to stay home.

"I passed by two parks and saw 25 to 30 people in each," she said. "Public gardens are supposed to remain closed."