Iran has announced that it is reimposing coronavirus restrictions in major cities as the spread of the highly contagious Delta variant spurs fears of another devastating surge in the nation, reports AP.

After over a year of battling the worst virus outbreak in the Middle East, Iran has ordered the closures of non-essential businesses in 275 cities, including the capital, Tehran.

The shutdown of all public parks, restaurants, dessert shops, beauty salons, malls and bookstores applies to the country’s red and orange zones, or municipalities ranked as having an elevated risk of Covid-19.

The government has said it is also imposing a travel ban between cities with high infection rates.

Iran’s new restrictions are designed to slow the spread of the highly transmissible delta variant, first detected in India, which President Hassan Rouhani warned on Saturday was driving a potential “fifth wave” of infections in the country.

Opinion

Editorial

A hasty retreat
Updated 28 Nov, 2024

A hasty retreat

Govt should not extend its campaign of violence against PTI and its leaders, thinking it now has the upper hand. Enough is enough.
Lebanon truce
28 Nov, 2024

Lebanon truce

WILL it hold? That is the question many in the Middle East and beyond will be asking after a 60-day ceasefire ...
MDR anomaly removed
28 Nov, 2024

MDR anomaly removed

THE State Bank’s decision to remove its minimum deposit rate requirement for conventional banks on deposits from...
Islamabad march
Updated 27 Nov, 2024

Islamabad march

WITH emotions running high, chaos closes in. As these words were being written, rumours and speculation were all...
Policing the internet
27 Nov, 2024

Policing the internet

IT is chilling to witness how Pakistan — a nation that embraced the freedoms of modern democracy, and the tech ...
Correcting sports priorities
27 Nov, 2024

Correcting sports priorities

IT has been a lingering battle that has cast a shadow over sports in Pakistan: who are the national sports...