Museums lose 90% of revenues in wake of coronavirus outbreak 

TEHRAN- Iranian museums have lost 90 percent of their revenues due to the consecutive closures caused by the global coronavirus pandemic, Mohammadreza Kargar, the tourism ministry’s director of museums and historical properties, has said. 

Coronavirus gives kiss of death to once flourishing medical tourism in Mashhad

TEHRAN- While the developing health tourism industry, which is one of the most important fields of Iran’s travel sector, was trying to prove its capabilities and capacities in attracting medical and health tourists to the country, the global coronavirus pandemic put a sudden stop to everything.

New rules for traveling to Iran to take effect Saturday

TEHRAN – New regulations and instructions for traveling to Iran will take effect tomorrow as the country is fighting back against the global spread of the coronavirus, ISNA reported on Friday.

Tehran museums reopen after weeklong halt

TEHRAN – Museums in Tehran have reopened their doors to the public after one week of closure following the increase in the number of people infected with the coronavirus, ILNA reported.

Iran sends anti-corona medical aid to Iraq

TEHRAN – Iran has delivered a consignment of medical equipment weighing one ton to Iraq to help the neighboring country fight the coronavirus, Iraj Masjedi, Iranian Ambassador to Iraq has announced.

Visits to Kermanshah tourist sites plummet as coronavirus forces travel curbs

TEHRAN – Some 32,000 travelers visited historical and tourist sites across Kermanshah province during the first three months of the current Iranian calendar year (started March 20), a sharp decline compared to around 232,000 visits in the same period last year as travel curbs were imposed to limit the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

Iran setting rules to resume foreign tourist arrivals amid pandemic

TEHRAN – The ministries of tourism and health in close collaboration with several other government bodies are defining a series of rules for admitting foreign travelers to the country amid a standstill in the global tourism industry caused mainly by the coronavirus.

Kindergartens reopen after 4 months of lockdown

TEHRAN – After four-months of lockdown due to the coronavirus outbreak, kindergartens across the country began their activities observing social distancing rules and health protocols, Mehr reported.

Coronavirus may move travel into ‘the realm of luxury’ in Iran

TEHRAN – The coronavirus pandemic may turn tours and travels in Iran into luxury items as observing health protocols will rise the cost of travel in the country, Mohammad Ali Vaqefi, the vice president of the Iranian Tour Operators Association, has warned.

Why COVID-19 claims fewer lives in Iran compared to many other countries?

TEHRAN – Fortunately, compared to many countries in the world, the mortality rate of coronavirus in Iran is significantly lower than in many developed countries, Ehsan Mostafavi, director of the research center for emerging and re-emerging diseases of the Pasteur Institute of Iran has said.

Border trade resumed between Iran, Iraqi Kurdistan

TEHRAN- Iran and Iraq’s Kurdistan region resumed trade via land border, which had been stopped for several weeks due to the coronavirus outbreak, IRNA reported on Saturday.

Craftspeople produce 700,000 face masks for free 

TEHRAN – Some 700,000 protective face masks have been produced and distributed for free by two handicrafts workshops in the central Isfahan province during the past two months. 

By Faranak Bakhtiari

Why Iran, unlike others, held mass prayers successfully amid pandemic?

TEHRAN – With the onset of the coronavirus outbreak, the governments around the world announced restrictions on social and religious gatherings, but some religious people started to violate the rules endangering others’ lives. However, Iranians reacted positively and observed health protocols outlined by the government standards even during Ahya nights.

Iran, Russia to enhance cooperation in fight against coronavirus

TEHRAN – Iranian Health Minister Saeed Namaki and his Russian counterpart Mikhail Albertovich Murashko discussed ways to enhance cooperation in dealing with the coronavirus pandemic.

By Faranak Bakhtiari

Iran’s social, religious unity ‘a world model for coronavirus response’

TEHRAN – Iran could considerably reduce COVID-19 infections and death toll since the onset of the outbreak, the reason behind which is mainly social and religious unity among Iranians that can be run as a role model anywhere in the world, Alireza Marandi, head of Iran’s Academy of Medical Sciences has said.

Germany imports Iranian-made COVID-19 test kits

TEHRAN – A consignment of COVID-19 diagnostic kits manufactured by an Iranian knowledge-based company has been exported to Germany.

By Faranak Bakhtiari

Coronavirus brought healthcare reforms into sharp focus

TEHRAN – The coronavirus outbreak proved that one-dimensional health systems cannot survive from health-threatening crises, which occur every few years in the form of infectious diseases, a mere view of treatment is not enough, so that the need for healthcare reforms should be brought into sharp focus.

Official warns of second, third waves of coronavirus

TEHRAN – Mohammad Reza Shanehsaz, head of the Food and Drug Administration, has warned that the nation needs to prepare for a 'second and third wave' of coronavirus in October and November until a vaccine is developed.

Venezuela seeking Iran's experience in fighting coronavirus

TEHRAN – The Venezuelan deputy health minister Maria Gabriela Castillo has said her country is seeking to use Iran's successful experiences in dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, IRNA reported on Sunday.

Yazd tourist attractions available online

TEHRAN – Tourist attractions in the central Iranian province of Yazd can be visited online, said Seyyed Mostafa Fatemi, the provincial tourism chief, CHTN reported on Wednesday. 

IMF should put politics aside, do its professional duties: Iran’s central banker

TEHRAN – The Central Bank of Iran (CBI) governor has urged the International Monetary Fund to put politics aside and do its professional duties in regard to Iran’s requests for financial aid during crises, especially in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

By Faranak Bakhtiari

Coronavirus crisis: a time for lasting togetherness

TEHRAN – In the wake of coronavirus, many people have faced difficulty earning income or finding self-protective products due to lock-down measures, but benefactors stood up and volunteering opportunities cropped up, which highly reflects that togetherness never ends.

Qazvin tourist attractions available online during coronavirus

TEHRAN – Some 15 tourist attractions in northwestern province of Qazvin can be visited on virtual tours, as the province’s tourism has gone into lockdown over the coronavirus pandemic, said provincial tourism chief Alireza Khazaeli, CHTN reported on Thursday.  

By Faranak Bakhtiari

Knowledge-based companies pushing for ‘surge in production’

TEHRAN – Iran has developed plans to support and empower knowledge-based companies as a step forward to materialize the goal of a surge in production, as the economy is grappling with the coronavirus predicament.

Tehran concert hall dedicated to charity group producing face masks 

TEHRAN – The Rudaki Foundation in Tehran has dedicated its Hafez Hall to a charity team producing face masks for health workers combatting the coronavirus outbreak.

Coronavirus: Iran confirms 71,686 infections, 4,474 deaths

TEHRAN- The total number of people diagnosed with the coronavirus in Iran has reached 71,686 of whom 4,474 have died and 43,894 recovered.

Gas production, distribution stable in country: NIGC managing director

TEHRAN- The managing director of the National Iranian Gas company (NIGC) announced that gas production, transfer and distribution is stable in the country despite coronavirus outbreak, Shana reported.

By Faranak Bakhtiari

COVID-19 crisis: washing hands for 20 seconds, not wasting water for 20 seconds

TEHRAN – These days, it is strictly recommended to wash our hands for 20 seconds as a great step to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus, but unfortunately many leave the tap running at the same time. This issue poses the greatest threat to the environment.

By Zahra Bahadivand Chegini

COVID-19, an uninvited guest who helped us cherish our planet, family more

The widespread outbreak of the coronavirus has created a new situation in the human world. From political troubles and disputes to the humankind’s potential vulnerability to confront nature, and the increasing importance of science in human life, are part of changes and hints caused by the introduction of the virus into modern human life.

Iranian-made COVID-19 diagnostic system unveiled

TEHRAN – The first Iranian-made system for diagnosing the novel coronavirus with more than 97 percent accuracy was unveiled on Saturday, ISNA reported on Saturday.