Iranian women wear masks to guard against Coronavirus, Tehran, June 2020 (Reuters)

Iran’s official daily death toll from Coronavirus has exceeded 100 for the first time since April 13.

The Health Ministry announced 107 deaths on Sunday, bringing the total to 8,837. Another 2,472 infections were declared, raising the official figure 187,427.

Spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari said on State TV, “Today it was very painful for us to announce a triple digit statistic….This virus is unpredictable and shifting,”

She reiterated the statement of President Hassan Rouhani on Saturday:

Observe health protocols, take social distancing seriously, avoid gatherings and trips that aren’t essential and, God willing, in the coming days we will see the statistic come down into double digits and even single digits.

Iran announced 113 daily deaths on April 13. Two days earlier, the Government had begun reopening businesses, dividing the country into white, yellow, and red zones.

The Health Ministry announced only 803 new cases on May 2. Since then, Coronavirus has resurged, reaching 3,574 cases on June 4. Some areas of Iran, such as Khuzestan Province in the southwest and Hormozgan Province in the south, have been reclassifed as red zones.

But despite the spike, the Government has persisted in reopening because of Iran’s economic crisis and the Supreme Leader’s edict for a “Surge in Production”. More businesses, shopping malls, and restaurants have resumed businesses. Mosques and shrines have been reopened, and universities are again instructing students on campus.

Rouhani, who declared “success” in containing the virus last month, said Saturday that the observance of social distancing measures had fallen from about 80% to 20%.

He cautioned, “Our dear people must continue to heed health protocols and refrain from unnecessary travels, so that we do not see another peak of the disease in the country.”

However, as he declared a “National Coalition for Life”, he did not roll back the lifting of restrictions, saying measures will be reviewed next week by the National Coronavirus Task Force.

Iran Daily, June 14: President Rouhani — “Take Coronavirus Seriously” as Cases Resurge