After More Than 27,000 Coronavirus Cases in Iran; Rouhani Government Finally Bans Travel

Iran’s Ministry of Health on Wednesday, March 25 announced that the total number of coronavirus cases has exceeded 27,017 (twenty-seven thousand and seventeen) people and the number of deaths from the virus is 2,077 people. Now there are concerns about a second wave of coronavirus outbreak in Iran, and the Rouhani government has finally announced a ban on travel.

Kianosh Jahanpour, spokesman for Iran’s Ministry of Health, said that in the past 24 hours, 2,206 new cases of infection were recorded in Iran and during this period 143 people lost their lives.

These figures come as Iran has expelled Doctors Without Borders from the country, and concerns about concealment by authorities in releasing accurate statistics continue.

Previously, Doctors Without Borders announced on Sunday, March 21 that it was in the process of establishing a 50-bed emergency center in Iran to care for severe cases of the new coronavirus infection.

43 Healthcare Workers Dead from Coronavirus in Iran

While many medical personnel in Iran are dealing with coronavirus patients, insufficient medical equipment and even lack of standard infrastructure have endangered their lives. According to a statement by Iran’s Ministry of Health spokesman, 43 healthcare workers have died so far in the fight against coronavirus.

However, the necessary strict measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus in Iran had not been implemented until now; so much so that in the first week of the current year, authorities announced that more than 8.5 million trips were made in the country. A development that warns of the beginning of a new wave of coronavirus spread in the country.

Government Finally Announces Travel Ban

The number of coronavirus cases in Iran continues to rise while Iranian authorities no longer announce statistics broken down by provinces. However, Hassan Rouhani, the president of Iran, who has so far resisted requests to quarantine cities, this time spoke of “becoming somewhat stricter.”

Ali Rabiee, spokesman for the Iranian government, finally announced on Wednesday, March 25 that to prevent a new wave of outbreak, “new travel is prohibited and violators will face legal action.”

Also, it is planned to announce a ban on the holding of the Sizdah Bedar ceremony, or Nature Day festival, in parks and other public places.

The Islamic Republic, which had requested international assistance to combat coronavirus, has rejected not only the expulsion of Doctors Without Borders, but also the United States proposal for help in resolving the coronavirus crisis in Iran.

Previously, Mike Pompeo, U.S. Secretary of State, on Monday, March 23 in a statement titled “Khamenei’s Lies About Wuhan Virus Endanger People’s Lives” made remarks about the lies and cover-ups of the Iranian regime regarding the coronavirus.

In Mr. Pompeo’s statement it says: “Khamenei’s lies, the leader [of the Islamic Republic], about the Wuhan virus are dangerous and put Iranians and people around the world at greater risk. Facts matter.”

The United States has repeatedly condemned mismanagement, endemic financial corruption, and the plundering of Iran’s assets by regime-affiliated individuals, and has considered them among the main causes of Iran’s problems and the poor welfare situation of its people. Among other things, Mike Pompeo, U.S. Secretary of State, recently tweeted about the officials of the Islamic Republic, saying that instead of helping the people, they have been engaged in corruption.

Source: Voice of America