Fifth Wave of COVID-19 Hit Iran, Tehran Lockdown One Week

TEHERAN – Iran enforce a lockout or lockdown one week in the capital and nearest province on Tuesday when the caseload COVID-19 daily hit a record high amid the fifth wave of the pandemic, state television reported.

The lockdown affected the provinces of Tehran and Alborz, with only essential businesses allowed to remain open.

“Most offices, theaters and sports facilities should be closed in an effort to prevent the spread of the highly contagious Delta variant of the corona virus ,” the Iranian television station reported Al Araby, Wednesday (21/7/2021).

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Iran, the center of the pandemic in the Middle East, reported 27,444 new cases on Tuesday, breaking the previous record of 25,582 on April 14. The death toll increased from 250 to 87,624.

The Iranian government has been accused on social media of mismanagement of slow vaccination efforts in the country with only 2.3 million people fully vaccinated out of a population of 83 million.

But Iranian officials blame US sanctions for hampering efforts to buy foreign vaccines and delays in deliveries.

Also read: Iran Middle East Countries Worst Hit by Covid-19

(ian)

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