Iran's Medical Organization warns against premature lifting of restrictions
The Medical System Organization and the head of the Tehran Crisis Management Organization have warned of a possible increase in coronavirus cases. The Medical System Organization says that implementing the smart distancing plan under current conditions may lead to the spread of the disease.
According to ISNA, the organization announced in a statement that "without considering the scientific and administrative requirements" of the smart distancing plan, which is about to enter its second phase these days, "the past efforts of all the people, officials, and medical staff will be wasted, and serious threats of a resurgence of the disease will be ahead."
The statement said: "The smart distancing model requires training for all personnel and individuals who will benefit from this model, and it also urgently needs training for the public who will encounter these conditions. Obviously, this model and any other distancing model, in addition to comprehensive training, requires serious control, specific tools for monitoring, and the imposition of necessary restrictions."
The smart distancing plan is the second phase of social distancing in combating the spread of the coronavirus in Iran.
In this plan, which will be implemented nationwide except for Tehran from Saturday, April 13, and in Tehran from April 15, jobs are divided into two categories: high-risk and low-risk. Low-risk workers can register on the Ministry of Health website and obtain permission to start work while observing the principles of protecting their own health and that of their customers.
This is while official figures for coronavirus infections in Iran continue to indicate that the disease is spreading. In the latest figures, the Ministry of Health reported 71,686 cases and 4,474 deaths.
The Iranian Medical System Organization announced in its statement: "In scientific and epidemiological assessments, implementing this model is possible and useful when the actual number and statistics of infected people are low enough that it is possible to monitor and evaluate not only individuals, but also families with accurate laboratory tests and active case control."
In this statement, providing a general guideline for all cities in the country, regardless of the statistical prevalence of the disease and the necessary and accurate surveillance equipment, is considered a factor that could increase the spread of the disease in cities.
The organization says that in Tehran, where the smart distancing plan has not yet been implemented, the uncontrolled gathering of people without observing health regulations in shopping malls and fruit and vegetable markets is a cause for concern.
According to the organization, this concern is “due to the large gap between the statistics announced by the Ministry of Health and the actual number of infected people and the scientific limit for accepting smart distancing.”
The Military Medical Organization has also expressed "serious doubts" about the possibility of implementing health surveillance and control measures.
Warning about the increase in the number of infected people
In addition, the head of the Tehran City Crisis Prevention and Management Organization has also expressed concern about the possibility of a spike in the COVID-19 disease in a similar warning.
According to Hamshahri Online, Reza Karami Mohammadi, in a virtual meeting of the heads of the five working groups to combat the coronavirus, warned Tehran citizens to observe physical distancing, otherwise they may face an increase in coronavirus infections.
He called for maintaining social distancing and hygiene measures, especially in public spaces, such as transportation networks, shopping malls, and office environments.
The World Health Organization and many countries with similar conditions to Iran have recommended that restrictions be extended until the spread reaches an acceptable level for smart distancing, and at least until May 12.
Source: DW
