Iran could reimpose restrictions as Covid-19 deaths rise againJune 16, 2020 - 15:08 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Iran warned Monday, June 15 it may have to reimpose tough measures against the novel coronavirus to ensure social distancing, as it reported more than 100 deaths for a second straight day, AFP reports. Health ministry spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari said 113 new fatalities took to 8,950 the total number of Covid-19 deaths since the country's outbreak began in February. She also said another 2,449 people had tested positive for the virus in the past 24 hours, taking the Islamic republic's overall caseload to 189,876. Iran's government shut schools, postponed major public events and barred inter-city travel to stop the virus's spread in March before gradually easing restrictions from April. Official figures have shown a rising trajectory in new confirmed cases since early May, when Iran hit a near two-month low in daily recorded infections. Government spokesman Ali Rabiei on Monday bemoaned the lack of social distancing among people at holy sites and on public transport. "In the (Tehran) subway, although 90 percent of passengers use masks, social distancing is not being observed," he told a news conference. "In some provinces, we have reached the peak of the disease, but that does not mean a new peak. "The gradient of the death toll is still not sharp", with a slight decline in Tehran, but increase in some other provinces, Rabiei said. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Government reveals details from Pashinyan’s meeting in border village Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has met with a group of residents of a border village in Armenia’s northern Tavush province Narek Manasyan wins European Boxing Championships silver for Armenia Armenia’s Narek Manasyan (92kg) won Armenia’s second silver medal at the European Boxing Championships 2024 on April 28. Blinken urges Azerbaijan to continue negotiations with Armenia Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken has urged Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to continue negotiations with Armenia. Pashinyan, Blinken talk Armenia-U.S. ties over the phone Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a phone conversation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on April 28, Pashinyan’s office reports. |