Iran said it would allow "low-risk" economic activities to resume from Saturday, April 11, as its daily coronavirus infection rates slowed for a fifth day in a row.
"Restarting these activities does not mean we have abandoned the principle of staying at home," President Hassan Rouhani said at a meeting of the anti-coronavirus task force.
The president, whose country has been battered by US sanctions, did not specify what qualified as "low-risk" activities, but said bans would remain on schools and large gatherings.
A gradual return of low-risk economic activity will be permitted from Saturday in the provinces and from April 18 in Tehran, Mr Rouhani said.
The coronavirus pandemic claimed another 151 lives over the past 24 hours in Iran, raising the country’s declared death toll to 3,603, health ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour said on Sunday.
Mr Jahanpour also reported 2,483 new cases of Covid-19 infection, compared to a record number of 3,111 new infections on March 31.
Iran, the Middle East country worst affected by the pandemic, has reported 58,226 infections, a figure that some foreign experts suspect is an underestimate.
After resisting a lockdown or quarantine measures, Iran imposed an intercity travel ban late last month.
Last Saturday should have marked a return to regular activity in Iran after a two-week holiday for the Persian New Year.
Mr Jahanpour criticised "those who think that the situation is normal now that the holidays are over, because it is not normal".
While some people in Tehran said they were reassured by the government's response, others remained fearful.
"There have been a lot of people out on the streets the last two days. It's terrifying," homemaker Zohreh said.
But Zahra Zanjani, another homemaker, said she believed the situation was under control.
"People are very respectful" of instructions from authorities, "and are taking great care", she said.
A retiree named Amir worried about the economic effects of the pandemic.
"People still have expenses to pay," Amir said.
"They can't stay at home. The government needs to support them financially."
In Isfahan, Iran's third largest city and tourism capital, teacher Samira, 35, said many people were ignoring advice to stay home.
"I passed by two parks and saw 25 to 30 people in each," she said. "Public gardens are supposed to remain closed."
MORE ON CORONAVIRUS & THE ECONOMY
Tips to avoid getting scammed
1) Beware of cheques presented late on Thursday
2) Visit an RTA centre to change registration only after receiving payment
3) Be aware of people asking to test drive the car alone
4) Try not to close the sale at night
5) Don't be rushed into a sale
6) Call 901 if you see any suspicious behaviour
Hili 2: Unesco World Heritage site
The site is part of the Hili archaeological park in Al Ain. Excavations there have proved the existence of the earliest known agricultural communities in modern-day UAE. Some date to the Bronze Age but Hili 2 is an Iron Age site. The Iron Age witnessed the development of the falaj, a network of channels that funnelled water from natural springs in the area. Wells allowed settlements to be established, but falaj meant they could grow and thrive. Unesco, the UN's cultural body, awarded Al Ain's sites - including Hili 2 - world heritage status in 2011. Now the most recent dig at the site has revealed even more about the skilled people that lived and worked there.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Can NRIs vote in the election?
Indians residing overseas cannot cast their ballot abroad
Non-resident Indians or NRIs can vote only by going to a polling booth in their home constituency
There are about 3.1 million NRIs living overseas
Indians have urged political parties to extend the right to vote to citizens residing overseas
A committee of the Election Commission of India approved of proxy voting for non-resident Indians
Proxy voting means that a person can authorise someone residing in the same polling booth area to cast a vote on his behalf.
This option is currently available for the armed forces, police and government officials posted outside India
A bill was passed in the lower house of India’s parliament or the Lok Sabha to extend proxy voting to non-resident Indians
However, this did not come before the upper house or Rajya Sabha and has lapsed
The issue of NRI voting draws a huge amount of interest in India and overseas
Over the past few months, Indians have received messages on mobile phones and on social media claiming that NRIs can cast their votes online
The Election Commission of India then clarified that NRIs could not vote online
The Election Commission lodged a complaint with the Delhi Police asking it to clamp down on the people spreading misinformation
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GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
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Dubai Creek Open in numbers
- The Dubai Creek Open is the 10th tournament on this year's Mena Tour
- It is the first of five events before the season-concluding Mena Tour Championship
- This week's field comprises 120 players, 21 of which are amateurs
- 15 previous Mena Tour winners are competing at Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
