Coronavirus: Iran to reopen mosques in low-risk areas

TEHRAN: Iran will reopen mosques in areas free of the new coronavirus on Monday as it gradually starts to ease lockdown restrictions imposed to contain the spread of the pandemic.

Health ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour said 47 people died of the virus over the past 24 hours, the lowest daily count in 55 days. He told a news conference he hoped “the trend will continue in the upcoming days”.

President Hassan Rouhani said in a televised statement on Sunday that 132 counties, about one-third of the country’s administrative divisions, will “reopen their mosques as of tomorrow”.

“Social distancing is more important than collective prayer,” he continued, arguing that Islam considers safety obligatory, while praying in mosques is only “recommended”.

With mosques closed and religious gatherings banned since mid-March, ordinary Iranians have turned to drive-in venues for ceremonies during the month of Ramzan. State TV and social media videos showed people in their cars watching a religious ceremony on a big screen in a car park in Tehran.

Iran is one of the worst-hit countries in the Middle East as the death toll reached 6,203 and the total number of diagnosed cases has reached 97,424.

The health ministry said the number of infections have started a “gradual” downward trend. Rouhani said hospital visits over potential infections were much lower compared to recent weeks.

Iran has already lifted a ban on inter-city trips and malls as large shopping centres resumed activities. Schools and universities remained closed and cultural and sports gatherings are also still banned. High-risk businesses such as gyms and barber shops continue to remain shuttered.

Rouhani said the plan was for some schools to reopen soon. “The schools in the white and low-risk areas will reopen from May 16, but said they will continue to review the situation

“We will continue the reopenings calmly and gradually,” Rouhani said. He warned Iran should also prepare for “bad scenarios”, saying “this situation may continue into the summer”.