In a report published by Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Dr. Alireza Zali, the head of the National Headquarters for Managing and Fighting the Coronavirus in the capital, Tehran, advised all Iranians to stay home on Tuesday despite the arrival of Sizdah Bedar, as the day is known in Persian.
Sizdah Bedar has specific rituals and comes shortly after the Nowruz (New Year) on the Persian calendar. It is the thirteenth day of the year. People celebrate the day by leaving houses, gathering outdoors, and picnicking with family and friends. It marks the end of the Nowruz holidays.
Dr. Zali emphasized the importance of staying home in line with efforts to battle the pandemic, saying that by going outdoors, people “will not be celebrating” but will in fact be “welcoming death.”
He also stressed that stricter measures had been taken specifically for the day to ensure the safety of people and avoid the further spread of the virus.
All parks and recreational areas have been closed in Iran. Even vehicles parked besides parks will be fined.
Dr. Zali highlighted the crucial role of social distancing and staying at home in fighting the virus and said that those who refuse to abide by the restrictions will face consequences.
He warned that if people did not cooperate, all efforts so far to rein in COVID-19 would be rendered useless and the country would be faced with a new bitter scenario that could last for two more weeks.
Iran’s new tallies
In the 24 hours leading to Wednesday noon, 2,987 new infections and 138 more deaths were reported, according to Kianoush Jahanpour, Iran’s Health Ministry spokesman, bringing the total number of infections to 47,593 and deaths to 3,036. Some 15,473 patients have also now recovered from the disease.