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AFP
Iran’s major spiritual sites absorb been closed by the authorities on 16 March
Iran has reopened its major Shia Muslim shrines, two months after they absorb been closed to fight the coronavirus.
Worshippers will most certainly be allowed to access courtyards, but no longer coated areas. They must furthermore wear face masks and abide by social distancing principles.
Of us absorb been sprayed with disinfectant and had their temperatures checked at Tehran’s Abdol Azim shrine on Monday.
Iran has suffered the Middle East’s worst Covid-19 outbreak, with 137,000 cases and 7,450 deaths reported.
In new weeks, the authorities has begun relaxing restrictions in an strive to revive an economy that was already in crisis as a result of of US sanctions.
Iran’s Shia shrines are visited yearly by tens of hundreds and hundreds of pilgrims, who utilize many hours praying shut to the tombs they home. Many furthermore kiss or touch the tombs.
When the holy metropolis of Qom emerged because the epicentre of the Covid-19 outbreak in slow February, health specialists expressed alarm that the shrine of Hazrat Masumeh was no longer shut. Its custodian mentioned it ought to protect originate as a “home for cure”.
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On 16 March, because the respectable loss of life toll approached 1,000, the authorities ordered the closure of major spiritual sites, colleges and universities to assist prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
The resolution angered some hardliners, and mobs tried to damage into the shrine of Hazrat Masumeh and furthermore the shrine of Imam Reza in Mashhad.
On Monday, the shrines absorb been allowed to reopen with some barriers.
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EPA
At Tehran’s Abdol Azim shrine, of us needed to glide via a disinfection tunnel
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AFP
Iran’s president has warned that the Covid-19 outbreak is no longer but below control
Traffic will must follow health ministry guidelines, in conjunction with wearing face masks and observing social distancing, and bring their own prayer rugs.
The shrines will originate one hour after morning time and shut one hour sooner than sundown, pretty than remain originate spherical the clock.
TV photos confirmed a total bunch of worshippers – some in tears – running into Mashhad’s Imam Reza shrine early on Monday, with officials looking out to manufacture certain they seen social distancing.
At Tehran’s Abdol Azim shrine, of us needed to glide via a disinfection tunnel and absorb their temperature checked, per AFP recordsdata company.
Museums and historical sites reopened on Sunday to coincide with the competition of Eid al-Fitr, which marks the pause of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.
In a speech on Saturday, President Hassan Rouhani entreated Iranians to continue following health guidelines as a result of “now we absorb no longer but reached some extent the establish apart we are in a position to absorb assurances” that the nation’s Covid-19 outbreak is below control.
He mentioned Iran was coming attain the “fourth stage” of the fight against the disease, wherein the ability of figuring out and isolating of us infected with the coronavirus may perchance be intensified.