Following a resurgence of Covid-19, Iran Chamber of Guilds has issued a directive requiring its members across the country to use masks, observe health protocols and receive booster doses of vaccine.
“Given the significant increase in the number of Covid-19 infections and deaths, the Health Ministry predicts that the country is on the verge of the seventh wave of the virus. The growing number of patients has rendered hospitals unable to keep up with the demand for beds once again,” reads the statement reported by Mehr News Agency.
“Undoubtedly, one way out of the crisis is the adherence of people to the guidelines issued by the National Headquarters to Fight Coronavirus. All members of chambers and guilds are advised to receive their third and if necessary fourth dose of Covid-19 vaccines, use masks and observe other heath protocols. To safeguard public health, legal action will be taken against those who breach protocols.”
According to the statement, the level of compliance with protocols among people and businesses has now reached its lowest level.
“At this critical juncture, our cooperation could avoid recurrent stay-at-home restrictions on unions and businesses,” it said.
Despite the spike in cases, hospitalizations and fatalities, adherence to health protocols has dropped to an all-time low of 34% and wearing facemasks has dropped to an average of 24%.
Residents of Alborz Province have proved to be the most law-abiding citizens in terms of covering their face to prevent transmissions, averaging 39.5%, in stark difference to North Khorasan with an observance rate of only 14.3%.
With school and universities reopening in over a month and religious ceremonies underway, the government has relaunched the vaccination campaign to boost immunity in its population of 84 million people.
Some 30.2 million Iranians have been administered booster shots but millions remain unvaccinated.
The Health Ministry is advising mourners to commemorate the martyrdom of the third Shia Imam in open spaces to minimize the spread of the disease in the days ahead.
