Iran's partial lockdown and curfew takes effect

Iran has begun enforcing a partial lockdown and curfew in parts of the country marked as highly infectious.

Firefighters disinfect streets in Tehran in a bid to halt the spread of coronavirus [AFP/Getty]

The Islamic nation has introduced a color-based system to indicate the seriousness of the spread of the coronavirus.

Regions marked as white mean they're out of the danger zone, regions in orange mean they're reasonably safe, while regions in red mean the virus is spreading at an alarming rate.

Red marked regions will undergo a two-week partial lockdown. A watered-down version of the lockdown will also be in effect orange marked regions.

All non-essential businesses, in red regions, will have to remain closed until restrictions are lifted. Government offices in those highly contagious areas will only be allowed to have one-third of its employees working in office, while others will be forced to work from home.

Residents will also have to abide to a 9 pm to 4 am curfew. Anyone caught violating the curfew could be fined 10 million rials ($40).

Residents in orange and red marked areas have been barred from leaving their communities for lower color-classified areas, and vice versa. Wearing a mask will remain mandatory for everyone across the country.

“We hope that through an increase in people refraining from risky behaviors, improving management, and better cooperation of different entities we can witness a halt to the outbreaks in the country,” Health Ministry Spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari said.

The restrictions come as Iran records 431 new coronavirus related deaths in the last 24hrs, and 12,931 new infections.

“If the current trend continues, we will have a winter much more difficult than the fall," Lari said.

“If the current trend continues, we will have a winter much more difficult than the fall

Iran now has a total of 44,327 Covid-19 related deaths and 841,308 infections.

Situation in other countries:

France continues to impose its national curfew to try and curb the spread of the virus. Already, 17,881 people tested positive for Covid-19 in the last 24hrs, that's a slight decrease from Friday's 22,882 case cont.

French police enforcing the lockdown rules that require permission forms for all trips outside the home. Photo: AFP

In addition to the new cases, France recorded 276 new deaths, down from Friday's 386 figure. Despite this, French Prime Minister Jean Castex floated the idea of easing restrictions to allow businesses to sell goods deemed non-essential.

Portugal has announced plans to ban domestic travel from 11 p.m on, starting Nov. 27 until 5. a.m, Dec.2nd. After that, another travel ban will kick in from Dec.4th to Dec. 9.

City crews in Lisbon sanity the street as more people are told to stay indoors

Portugal today recorded 6,472 new cases of the coronavirus as well as 52 deaths. The total number of infections stands at 255,970, and 3,824 deaths.

By: Niza Nondo