Iran Medical Organization Warns Against Premature Lifting of Restrictions
The Medical Organization of Iran and the head of Tehran’s Crisis Management Organization have warned about the possible increase in coronavirus cases. The Medical Organization says implementing the smart distancing plan under current conditions may lead to disease transmission.
According to ISNA, the organization stated in a statement, “Without considering the scientific and executive requirements” of the smart distancing plan, which is about to enter its second phase, “the efforts of all people, officials and medical staff in the past will be wasted and serious threats regarding the resurgence of the disease lie ahead.”
The statement said: “The smart distancing model requires training for all personnel and individuals who benefit from this model, and also urgently needs public education for those who will face these conditions. Obviously, this model and any other distancing model, in addition to comprehensive training, needs serious control, specific tools for monitoring and implementing necessary restrictions.”
The smart distancing plan is the second phase of social distancing in combating the spread of coronavirus in Iran.
In this plan, which was announced to be implemented from Saturday, the 23rd of Farvardin throughout the country except Tehran and from the 30th of Farvardin in Tehran, occupations have been divided into two categories: high-risk and low-risk. Employees in the low-risk category can register on the Ministry of Health website and, while observing health principles for themselves and customers, obtain permission to begin work.
This is while official statistics of coronavirus infection in Iran still indicate the widespread nature of the disease. According to the latest figures, the Ministry of Health reported 71,686 cases and 4,474 deaths.
The Medical Organization of Iran stated in its statement: “In scientific and epidemiological assessments, implementing this model is possible and beneficial only when the number and actual statistics of infected individuals are so low that it can be monitored and evaluated not only for individuals but also for families through precise laboratory tests and active case control.”
In this statement, presenting a general guideline for all cities in the country without regard to the statistical prevalence of the disease and necessary precise monitoring requirements was described as something that could increase disease transmission in cities.
The organization says that in Tehran, where the smart distancing plan has not yet been implemented, uncontrolled gatherings of people without observing health protocols in shopping centers and fruit and vegetable markets are a matter of concern.
According to the organization, this concern “is due to the large gap that exists both regarding the statistics announced by the Ministry of Health and considering the actual figures of infected individuals with the scientific threshold for accepting smart distancing.”
The Military Medical Organization has also expressed “serious doubt” about the feasibility of implementing oversight and control of health principles.
Warning About Increase in Cases
Beyond this, the head of the Prevention and Crisis Management Organization of Tehran also expressed concern about the possibility of a peak in “COVID-19” in a similar warning.
According to Hamshahri Online, Reza Karmi Mohammadi in a virtual meeting of the heads of the five working groups combating coronavirus warned Tehran citizens to maintain physical distance, otherwise they may face increased coronavirus infection.
He called for maintaining distance and health considerations, especially in public spaces such as transportation networks, shopping centers and office environments.
The World Health Organization and many countries with conditions similar to Iran have recommended that restrictions be extended until reaching an acceptable level of disease prevalence for implementing smart distancing and at least until the 12th of Ordibehesht.
Source: DW
