“The Outbreak Is Not Over Yet” – Iran Becomes First Country To Report Second Wave Of Coronavirus As Cases Hit Record After Lockdown Ease

Iran has become the first country to report a second coronavirus wave after recording its highest number of daily cases.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani

The country’s leaders have warned they might have to re-impose lockdown measures amid fears people are widely ignore social distancing. On Thursday, Iran recorded 3,574 new cases – the third consecutive day it recorded more than 3,000 daily new Covid-19 infections.

The figure is higher than the previous worst day of 3,186 cases which were logged on March 30. Health minister Saeed Namaki has said the government has pleaded with people not to hold weddings or funerals but they’ve not listened.
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“People seem to think the coronavirus is over,” he said. “The outbreak is not over yet and at any moment it may come back stronger than before. If our people fail to respect the health protocols we must prepare ourselves for the worst situation.”

Iran was among the worst hit countries in the early days of the global pandemic with its health minister testing positive just hours after downplaying the crisis on television as he sweated and look unwell.

Coronavirus Edo
The country imposed lockdown restrictions in February as the virus ran rampant but eased them in- in mid-April as the disease declined. The start of May saw around 1000 cases which had jumped to around 2000 by the third week of the month.

Experts believe there are several reasons are behind the increase, the most of which important is that many Iranians are not taking social distancing seriously. Thousands of people ignored official advice to travel to the north of the country- then considered a high-risk “red” zone – two weeks ago for the Eid al-Fitr holidays.

Undergrounds, banks and offices have also been packed with people. Recent polls from the health ministry suggested only 40 per cent of the population believed in social distancing, down from 90 per cent and that 32 per cent believed in self-isolation.

President Hassan Rouhani echoed the comments waring that lockdown measures may have to be re-imposed which serious consequences for its economy. “If in any part of the country these warnings are not taken seriously and, God forbid, the outbreak of illness peaks again, the authorities will have to re-impose restrictions.”

Iranian health officials have argued that the “second wave” is the result of better testing and data-logging.
So far least 11 countries have now reimposed some or all of their lockdown restrictions to prevent a second wave after virus cases began to rise when measures were relaxed.
Japan, China, South Korea, Lebanon, Germany, Iran, Saudi Arabia, El Salvador, Iraq, Sri Lanka and Pakistan have brought back measures ranging from localised quarantines or widespread shutdowns.


Photo Credit: Getty

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