Officials Warn Against Early Lifting of Covid-19 Curbs

EghtesadOnline: As the National Coronavirus Headquarters revises health protocols to prepare for the reopening of all businesses in moderate and low risk regions, officials cautioned against removing restrictions too early, fearing another resurgence.

News ID: ۷۸۵۷۶۶

13 January 2021

Alireza Delavari, a member of Tehran's coronavirus taskforce, pointed to the mitigation guidelines currently under revision and said, "We shouldn't rush into reopenings just because Tehran is now color-coded as yellow. We should wait for the situation to stabilize before making decisions."

The health official warned against the partial reopening of schools and the removal of the ban on inter-provincial travel.

Noting the significant decline in hospitalizations and deaths, Delavari said, "These circumstances are absolutely fragile. We could reach another peak next month with one careless mistake."

The headquarters introduced a new code color, blue, to the previous red, orange and yellow to signify low-risk regions. All businesses will be allowed to reopen in regions classified as yellow and blue, including the capital of Tehran, as soon as the protocols are redrafted.

Sima Sadat Lari, the spokeswoman of Health Ministry, also voiced concerns about the reopenings, noting that the ministry has identified five patients infected with a very contagious coronavirus variant first detected in the United Kingdom.

According to British officials, the mutated virus can be as much as 70% more transmissible.

Iran reported 98 overnight deaths on Tuesday, bringing the national toll to 56,360, Lari said.

The health official said some 6,400 contracted the infectious disease in one day, taking the case tally to 1.299 million.

More than 1.08 million have recovered from the illness and 4,500 are in critical condition.

"The number of nationwide PCR tests has increased to 8.26 million," Lari said.

Over 91.4 million have tested positive for the coronavirus around the world and 1.95 million have lost their lives to the contagion.