Coronavirus cases in Iran, until recently the hardest-hit nation in the Middle East, have surged again as the country has eased restrictions.
The number of new daily cases in Iran peaked on March 30, with 3,186, and declined through April to a low of 802 new cases on May 2.
But over the past two weeks, the number of new cases has steadily increased until it topped 2,000 again for the first time on May 15.
On Sunday, the country reported 1,806 new cases. Officials have played down the rise, saying that mortality continues to decrease even as cases pick up again.
However, health ministry officials have admitted the latest rises represent a setback, saying that clusters in some provinces had led to the surge.
“We are in a situation similar to previous days [in most provinces] save for Khuzestan, which is still in a critical condition and it seems that North Khorasan may be critical as well,” health ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour said last Thursday.
“If this trend continues, North Khorasan will require more serious measures too."
North Khorasan province is in north-east Iran on the border with Turkmenistan. Khuzestan province in the south-west is on the Iraqi border.
Authorities in Khuzestan shut state offices, banks and non-essential businesses again in about a third of its counties.
Iran stopped publishing provincial figures for the coronavirus last month.
Officials in the south-east province of Sistan and Baluchistan, which borders Pakistan and Afghanistan, have also warned of a new surge in infections.
“We had not seen such an increase in coronavirus infections since” late February, said Ghasem Miri, deputy head of provincial capital Zahedan’s medical university.
Mr Miri said the jump was due to the failure of people to observe “social distancing and health protocols".
Since April 11, Tehran has allowed the phased reopening of the country.
Iran has reported 120,000 cases, just under 7,000 deaths and 94,000 recoveries.
But a health report by Parliament last month said the true toll could be more than double the reported number.
The document highlighted that only those who died in hospital were being counted in official tallies and said the number killed by Covid-19 could be 80 per cent higher than the tally.
It also said that infections could be “eight to 10” times higher than the 76,389 infections given then.
For weeks, Iran tried to bring the numbers down without a mandatory curfew or closing religious sites.
As cases soared and deaths mounted, authorities closed mosques and encouraged people to stay home.
But Tehran reopened religious sites this month against the advice of health experts, and crowds gathered at major pilgrimage spots.
In major cities, people have returned to work and are travelling more, even if face masks are a more common sight on the streets of Tehran today than before the crisis.
The virus was first reported in Iran’s religious city of Qom and officials have repeatedly downplayed the virus.
They called it a US conspiracy and blocked international aid groups from setting up field hospitals even as cases mounted.
As countries around the world considered lockdowns and urged social distancing through February and March, Iran held the 41st anniversary of its revolution and legislative elections.
Weeks later, as Nowruz approached at the end of March, officials did little to limit people from travelling or gathering.
The regime’s handling of the crisis, even as the virus has rippled through the offices of senior politicians, has led to rare public criticism of the government.
“The clergy’s apparent resistance to the state’s virus-control mandates will likely be marked as a point of no return for public mistrust of clerics, and suspicion about their ability to serve as rational authorities in the political or social sphere,” wrote Mehdi Khalaji, a fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.
Meanwhile, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has stepped in to help the country handle the crisis, in a bid to repair its image after admitting to shooting down a Ukrainian passenger plane, killing all on board, in January.
The incident came amid the country’s response to the US killing of IRGC Quds Force commander Qassem Suleimani on January 3.
Throughout the outbreak, the IRGC has set up clinics, carried out testing and sent fighters to conduct mass disinfection campaigns.
– Additional reporting by agencies
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Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
What are the influencer academy modules?
- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
- Cinematography, shots and movement.
- All aspects of post-production.
- Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
- Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
- Tourism industry knowledge.
- Professional ethics.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
Difference between fractional ownership and timeshare
Although similar in its appearance, the concept of a fractional title deed is unlike that of a timeshare, which usually involves multiple investors buying “time” in a property whereby the owner has the right to occupation for a specified period of time in any year, as opposed to the actual real estate, said John Peacock, Head of Indirect Tax and Conveyancing, BSA Ahmad Bin Hezeem & Associates, a law firm.
The specs: 2019 Haval H6
Price, base: Dh69,900
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 197hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 315Nm @ 2,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 7.0L / 100km
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FIGHT INFO
Men’s 60kg Round 1:
Ahmad Shuja Jamal (AFG) beat Krisada Takhiankliang (THA) - points
Hyan Aljmyah (SYR) beat Akram Alyminee (YEM) - retired Round 1
Ibrahim Bilal (UAE) beat Bhanu Pratap Pandit (IND) - TKO Round 1
Men’s 71kg Round 1:
Seyed Kaveh Soleyman (IRI) beat Abedel Rahman (JOR) - RSC round 3.
Amine Al Moatassime (UAE) walk over Ritiz Puri (NEP)
How being social media savvy can improve your well being
Next time when procastinating online remember that you can save thousands on paying for a personal trainer and a gym membership simply by watching YouTube videos and keeping up with the latest health tips and trends.
As social media apps are becoming more and more consumed by health experts and nutritionists who are using it to awareness and encourage patients to engage in physical activity.
Elizabeth Watson, a personal trainer from Stay Fit gym in Abu Dhabi suggests that “individuals can use social media as a means of keeping fit, there are a lot of great exercises you can do and train from experts at home just by watching videos on YouTube”.
Norlyn Torrena, a clinical nutritionist from Burjeel Hospital advises her clients to be more technologically active “most of my clients are so engaged with their phones that I advise them to download applications that offer health related services”.
Torrena said that “most people believe that dieting and keeping fit is boring”.
However, by using social media apps keeping fit means that people are “modern and are kept up to date with the latest heath tips and trends”.
“It can be a guide to a healthy lifestyle and exercise if used in the correct way, so I really encourage my clients to download health applications” said Mrs Torrena.
People can also connect with each other and exchange “tips and notes, it’s extremely healthy and fun”.
In Full Flight: A Story of Africa and Atonement
John Heminway, Knopff
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Vidaamuyarchi
Director: Magizh Thirumeni
Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra
Rating: 4/5
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The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
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Hydrogen: Market potential
Hydrogen has an estimated $11 trillion market potential, according to Bank of America Securities and is expected to generate $2.5tn in direct revenues and $11tn of indirect infrastructure by 2050 as its production increases six-fold.
"We believe we are reaching the point of harnessing the element that comprises 90 per cent of the universe, effectively and economically,” the bank said in a recent report.
Falling costs of renewable energy and electrolysers used in green hydrogen production is one of the main catalysts for the increasingly bullish sentiment over the element.
The cost of electrolysers used in green hydrogen production has halved over the last five years and will fall to 60 to 90 per cent by the end of the decade, acceding to Haim Israel, equity strategist at Merrill Lynch. A global focus on decarbonisation and sustainability is also a big driver in its development.
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