Parliamentary Representative: ‘The Alarm Bell for the Spread of Mutated Coronavirus from India to Iran Has Sounded’
A member of Iran’s parliamentary national security commission announced that “the alarm bell” for the spread of the mutated coronavirus strain from India to Iran has “sounded,” and emphasized the necessity of halting travel between Iran and India as quickly as possible.
Ibrahim Azizi said on Monday, the sixth of Farvardin, to ISNA news agency that “we must confront all contacts through which the virus might enter the country.”
Criticizing the government’s approach and the national coronavirus task force, he said that “usually the coronavirus task force announces problems only after people face difficulties, and only then think about what measures should be taken.”
In recent days, coinciding with the coronavirus crisis in India, concerns about the entry of a new strain of the virus into Iran and the worsening of the current situation have increased.
The country’s aviation organization announced on Saturday, the fourth of Ordibehesht, the cancellation of all flights to India and Pakistan and from these countries to Iran until further notice. However, some domestic media outlets report the continued sale of tickets to India. Based on a report published by ISNA news agency on Monday, on some websites tickets for Tehran-Delhi flights and vice versa are being sold for eight to 131 million tomans.
Mohammad Hassan Zeibakhsh, spokesman for the country’s aviation organization, in response to this news announced action against violating agencies and said that purchasing tickets as reservations for future months is not problematic.
Mr. Zeibakhsh also said regarding citizens’ travel to India through other routes that passengers can travel to India and other currently banned countries via Turkey or Dubai, but upon return, they have no opportunity to enter the country.
Abolghasem Jalali, the international deputy of the country’s aviation organization, also said that all flight permits “to” and “from” India and Pakistan have been revoked, and if tickets are purchased, the full amount will be refunded to passengers.
However, based on reports, some airline agencies have told their customers that if they present a negative coronavirus test, tickets to Delhi will be sold to them.
In recent days, the daily number of coronavirus cases in India has exceeded 300,000 people, which is considered an unprecedented figure in the world.
This increase in numbers has occurred following the outbreak of a new mutated strain of coronavirus in the country, which according to Indian specialists, has a higher transmission rate and mortality compared to previous strains.
Kianush Jahanpour, head of public relations for Iran’s Ministry of Health, said on Sunday in response to a question related to increasing concerns about the mutated coronavirus in India that this virus has not yet been seen in Iran, but “we should expect its arrival.”
Source: Radio Farda
