Coronavirus: Ramadan begins in Iran amid fears of ‘fresh outbreak’
- With an official death toll of 5,650, Iran has paid the deadliest price in the Middle East from the pandemic
Ramadan began in Iran on Saturday as health officials raised fears of a “fresh outbreak” of coronavirus cases in the country, two weeks into a gradual reopening of shops.
As the predominantly Shiite country marked the start of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, a day later than the mostly Sunni Muslim world, another 76 fatalities were declared.
With an official death toll of 5,650, Iran has paid the deadliest price in the Middle East from the pandemic.
Authorities have in phases since April 11 allowed the reopening of a number of businesses that were closed as part of measures to curb the spread of the Covid-19 disease.
Mosques, however, will remain closed until further notice and authorities have ordered that iftar meals – when extended family and friends traditionally gather to break their daytime fasts after sunset – must be restricted to the immediate family.
“We usually go to the mosque to pray, but not this time,” said Ahmad Bakhchi, who sells religious goods at north Tehran’s Tajrish Bazaar abutting the Imamzadeh-Saleh mosque, an important shrine that remains closed.