Iran battles with surge in coronavirus cases following Persian New Year

7 April 2021, 11:34

People wear protective face masks to help prevent the spread of coronavirus (Vahid Salemi/AP) — Iran Virus Outbreak. Picture: PA

Millions travelled to holiday spots during the Nowruz celebrations.

Iran shattered its daily record for new coronavirus infections for the second consecutive day, with recorded cases soaring to 20,954.

The country is in the midst of one of the most severe surges of the coronavirus to date, following a two-week public holiday for Nowruz, the Persian New Year, which drove millions to travel to popular vacation spots across the country, crowd markets and congregate in homes for parties in defiance of government health guidelines.

There appears to be no respite in sight, as the country’s vaccine rollout lags, with only just over 200,000 vaccine doses having been administered in the country of 84 million, according to the World Health Organisation.

Wednesday’s infection count easily surpassed the previous record set Tuesday of 17,430 infections.

A woman smokes a water pipe as a motorised paraglider flies on the annual public picnic day on the 13th and last day of the Persian New Year, or Nowruz, holiday at Gisoum beach near the city of Talesh, in northern Gilan province, Iran (Ebrahim Noroozi/AP)

That signals the biggest surge in over four months.

Earlier this week, health minister Saeed Namaki warned of a further spike and said authorities had “lost control” over what he called “the rebellious Covid-19 dragon”.

Officials have blamed the surge on gatherings and travel during the country’s biggest holiday, saying that compliance with health measures like social-distancing and mask-wearing noticeably plummeted over Nowruz.

Police have done little to enforce the restrictions.

Tehran, the capital, and several other major cities were declared so-called “red zones” this week, which have the most severe restrictions in place and the highest virus positivity rate.