TEHRAN (Iran News) – President Hassan Rouhani said Wednesday his entire government is engaged in the fight against a coronavirus outbreak across the country, stressing that all state institutions and officials are, in parallel, doing their utmost to minimize the damage caused by the epidemic to people’s livelihood.
Speaking at a cabinet meeting, Rouhani said everyone at the cabinet and government institutions — including those related to economy, science, research, and defense — are supporting the Health Ministry and the crisis committee formed to manage the nationwide fight.
“The entire government is playing a role in the committee,” said Rouhani during a cabinet meeting, flanked by ministers wearing masks. “There is no individual in our administration that is not engaged.”
A section of the government is trying to help people live their normal lives, said the president. “What does a normal life mean? This means electricity, water, petrol, gas, and monetary issues. Our effort is focused on making people’s lives, which are currently difficult, easier and more tolerable.”
Besides the officials, the president added, the Iranian Armed Forces, including the army and the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, are likewise active in containing the virus, adding that they have expressed readiness to prepare makeshift hospitals wherever the need be.
Avoid traveling
The outbreak of the coronavirus in Iran is one of the deadliest outside China, where the disease originated.
Iran announced its first coronavirus deaths, in the Shia holy city of Qom, on February 19.
The country did not impose quarantines but authorities have repeatedly called on people to refrain from traveling.
They have closed schools and universities and resorted to shutting hotels and other tourist accommodation to discourage travel.
Rouhani also called on people to limit their movements in order to contain the virus.
“Movements must be reduced to the possible minimum unless it is absolutely necessary,” he continued.
He said these days, people are dealing with the new problem which has been unprecedented over the past decades in Iran as well as in other countries.
Rouhani called for the change of lifestyle and urged to take the novel coronavirus issue seriously.
“Everyone must pay attention to protocols and be careful so the virus’s spread can be contained,” the president added.
Rouhani also warned against “exaggerating” the number of dead by non-official toll and causing “fear and anxiety” among the public.
In moves to prevent panic over the coronavirus in Iran, Rouhani appealed to people not to spread rumors and the judiciary banned most officials from announcing numbers of those infected.
“Only the Health Ministry … is in charge of announcing figures … violators will be charged with acting against national security,” said Iran’s Prosecutor General Mohammad Ja’far Montazeri in a statement.
