Iran to Enforce Smart Distancing as New Coronavirus Cases Fall

Iran on Saturday reported its lowest single-day rise in new coronavirus cases since March 27, as President Hassan Rouhani unveiled a Smart Distancing Initiative to contain the contagion while considering economic factors. 
The tally of cases rose by 2,560 in the past 24 hours, taking the national total to 55,743 on Saturday. The number of deaths increased by 158 to reach 3,452, ISNA quoted Health Ministry officials. 
The number of recovered patients surged from 17,935 to 19,736. Over 4,000 are in critical condition.
Rouhani held a meeting with heads of various institutions on Saturday morning to look into the implementation of the new initiative following the success of its predecessor, the Social Distancing Initiative.
The Smart Distancing Initiative will develop health protocols according to the needs of each sector for the safe reopening of businesses.
The president said, “health protocols need to be devised in a way to assure that the general public, employees, workers and business owners are safe outside homes and in workplaces”.
Rouhani added, “The public should be informed of the protocols and adhere to them so they can know with a high degree of certainty that they will remain healthy outside.”
The president noted that the population’s health is the highest priority of the administration and added, “Alongside health, the livelihood of the people, small businesses and low-income families are also important.”
According to Rouhani, the underprivileged are the most exposed to the economic ramifications of the coronavirus pandemic

Fighting on Two Fronts

Officials from Rouhani’s administration reiterated his stance on opening up businesses while closely following health protocols on Saturday. 
Deputy Health Minister Iraj Harirchi held an online news conference to announce that day jobs will not return to the pre-outbreak conditions, but they need to heed economic facts while controlling the spread of the infection.
Harirchi said, “We are fighting on two fronts, alongside the fight against COVID-19. We need to consider our sanctions-hit economy.”
The United States unilaterally withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal in May 2018 and imposed harsh sanctions against Iran, which hammered the country’s economy and adversely influenced the government’s ability to respond to the global crisis. 
The deputy health minister said they might allow those with existing health problems to continue working from home. He acknowledged that the ministry has not been testing patients with mild symptoms, only taking samples of those in critical condition or already dead. 
Vice President Es’haq Jahangiri also noted the effect of the fight against the flu-like disease on the fragile state of the economy.
He said cruel US sanctions must be lifted to allow a comprehensive response to the outbreak.
“We can better manage the pandemic, if obstacles are removed. The Iranian people say sanctions must be lifted so the Central Bank of Iran can access the country’s revenues,” he added.
The novel coronavirus has infected over 1,133,000 worldwide.