COVID-19 takes lowest toll on foreign nationals in Iran: official

TEHRAN – Iran had the lowest coronavirus cases and mortality among refugees and foreign nationals compared to the population it is hosting, Mehdi Mahmoudi, the director for foreign nationals and immigrants at the Ministry of Interior, has said.

Yazd hotels ready to accommodate coronavirus patients

TEHRAN - Hotels across the central Iranian province of Yazd are ready to be turned into shelters for coronavirus patients and those with mild symptoms, Yazd hoteliers association’s president says. 

Iran gets ready for two-week coronavirus closure

TEHRAN – The National Headquarters for Coronavirus Control will implement a plan, according to which all occupations, except for emergency services and basic food suppliers, will be closed for two weeks in more than 100 cities in an attempt to curb the coronavirus.

Mass, unplanned travels not approved: tourism minister

TEHRAN –Mass, unplanned and irresponsible travels are not approved to take place during the coronavirus era, Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts Minister Ali-Asghar Mounesan said on Monday.

Traditional medicine center inaugurated for COVID-19 patients

TEHRAN – A center offering traditional medicine services to coronavirus patients was inaugurated in Tehran’s Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences on Sunday.

Coronavirus lockdowns expanded to 46 more cities

TEHRAN – The National Headquarters for Coronavirus Control has approved to impose strict restrictions for 10 days as of Wednesday in 46 cities that have the highest rate of COVID-19 infection in the country.

Iran hopes to introduce coronavirus vaccine within 4 months

TEHRAN – Health Minister Saeed Namaki has expressed hope that the country will introduce the home-grown COVID-19 vaccine by the end of the current Iranian calendar year (March 19, 2021).

43 cities in Iran go into tough coronavirus lockdown

TEHRAN – The National Headquarters for Coronavirus Control started strict restrictions for a week as of Monday in 43 cities that have the highest rate of infection in the country.

Coronavirus is worse in Iran because of U.S. sanctions: Foreign Ministry

TEHRAN – Iran’s Foreign Ministry said in a tweet on Monday that coronavirus has been a deadly disease everywhere but it is worse in Iran due to U.S. sanctions.

Air pollution has no effect on coronavirus spread: expert

TEHRAN – Air pollution has no special effect on the spread of the coronavirus disease, and studies have shown that there is no connection between these two issues, Ali Maher, deputy chief of Tehran special working group for coronavirus control said.

National handicrafts expo to be held online due to coronavirus

TEHRAN – The 34th national handicrafts exhibition of Iran will be held online due to the outbreak of coronavirus.

Iranian researchers produce nano-mask with 99.9% lethality to coronavirus

TEHRAN – Researchers at the Institute of Materials and Energy affiliated with the Ministry of Science, produced nano face masks that can kill coronavirus by 99.9 percent.

Bandar Lengeh-Dubai shipping line resumes operation after COVID-19 halt

TEHRAN – The Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Line (IRISL) has announced that a shipping line between Bandar Lengeh and Dubai has resumed operation after a halt over the coronavirus pandemic. 

Special clinic to be launched to relieve bereaved coronavirus families

TEHRAN – A special clinic will be opened for the first time in the country to provide free psychological services to families who have lost their loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Iran has good news about Covid-19 vaccine: minister

TEHRAN – The Iranian health minister announced on Sunday that he had “good news” about a Covid-19 vaccine being developed in the country.

COVID-19 at record high, Tehran in ‘extremely severe’ condition

TEHRAN – Iran registered unprecedented 3,902 new cases of coronavirus and 235 deaths on Monday as the capital city Tehran is experiencing ‘extremely severe’ condition.

IranAir launches first Germany flight after six months

TEHRAN – Iran’s flag carrier, IranAir, has resumed flights to Germany after more than six months of hiatus due to the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.

Iran-Turkey flights suspended once again

TEHRAN – The newly-reestablished Iran-Turkey flights operated by Turkish Airlines has been suspended once again due to coronavirus fears.

‘Passion for affection’ begins to help students in need

TEHRAN – A national plan titled Shoor-e Atefeha, literally meaning ‘passion for affection’, has been launched concurrently with the start of the new school year to encourage the public participation for supporting deprived students across the country amid the outbreak of the coronavirus.

New academic year begins amid pandemic

TEHRAN – The new academic year of universities and higher education centers officially began with a special ceremony on Sunday amid the national efforts to deal with the coronavirus pandemic.

850,000 Iranians lose jobs amid coronavirus

TEHRAN – Some 850,000 people have lost their jobs since the outbreak of COVID-19 in Iran until August 1, Masoud Babaei, an official with the Ministry of Cooperatives, Labour, and Social Welfare, said on Monday.

Medical centers opened in memory of health martyrs

TEHRAN – The Ministry of Health inaugurated 164 medical centers across the country on Tuesday in memory of the healthcare workers who have lost their lives fighting the coronavirus pandemic.

By Faranak Bakhtiari

‘The vow of health’ highlights Iranian-Islamic values

TEHRAN – The vow of health in the age of coronavirus is a rational, innovative, and cultural activity that highlights the Iranian-Islamic values toward improving the health and well-being of vulnerable groups in the society amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Iranian company produces COVID-19 test cabin

TEHRAN – An Iranian knowledge-based company has managed to develop a dual-purpose test cabin both for coronavirus and tuberculosis that provides testing without the need for an additional protective suit.

Coronavirus costs Iran’s tourism $2.8b so far, minister says

TEHRAN – Iran’s travel sector has suffered a loss of 12 trillion rials (some $2.85 billion at the official rate of 42,000 rials) since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, tourism minister Ali-Asghar Mounesan said on Monday.

Traditional, herbal medicine to help fight COVID-19

TEHRAN – There are currently 30 projects underway nationwide in the field of traditional medicine, herbal medicine and supplements to fight the coronavirus pandemic, said the head of the scientific committee of the National Headquarters for Coronavirus Control.