The National Coronavirus Headquarters has agreed that restrictions imposed on Group II of jobs in the high-risk red and orange zones for coronavirus transmission, including Tehran’s Grand Bazaar and shopping malls, should be relaxed.
According to Qasem Noudeh-Farahani, the head of Tehran Chamber of Guilds, Group I and II will reopen as of May 8 but Group III and IV will remain closed until May 18.
“Businesses violating the coronavirus containment measures will be subject to governmental orders requiring closure of their locations for up to three weeks,” he was quoted as saying by Fars News Agency.
All businesses, except those providing essential goods and services (the so-called Group I of jobs, namely bakeries, supermarkets, grocery stores, car shops, chain stores, health and treatment centers, pharmacies, factories, transportation companies, public parking garages, post offices, internet service providers, press, nursery homes and print shops) were closed over the past month.
About 1.2 million businesses belong to Group I, 1.8 million are in Group II and nearly 30,000 units are in Group III and IV.
“Iran’s coronavirus taskforce has also banned all travel across the country from May 11 to May 15 during the Eid al-Fitr holidays (feast marking the end of the fasting month) to control the fourth wave of Covid-19 infections,” Alireza Raeisi, spokesman of NCH, was quoted as saying by IRNA.
The partial reopening comes after Tehran’s Chamber of Guilds said it won’t continue to comply with lockdown rules while banks, tax offices and municipalities remain open, Fars News Agency quoted Qasem Noudeh-Farahani, the head of the chamber, as saying.
“Cooperation between the guilds and the government is not a one-way street. We have notified the president and senior officials with the National Coronavirus Headquarters that guilds won’t be capable of abiding by guidelines if the current situation persists, i.e., guilds and small businesses would be required to close up shop and institutions such as insurance firms, banks and tax office continue to bill them,” he said.