Tehran (IP) - The President described observing physical distancing and health protocols, using masks and refusing to attend at public gatherings essential for fighting coronavirus, and stated that using masks in public places is mandatory.

Iran Press/Iran News: Speaking on Saturday at a meeting of the National Task Force for Fighting Coronavirus, President Rouhani said: "Providing services in all sectors, especially the public sector, should be subject to observing health protocols by people and of course using masks".

The President also went on to say, "Coronavirus is a multi-dimensional and intertwined phenomenon that has affected all areas of medical, cultural, social, and economic fields, as well as international relations”.

Stating that coronavirus has reduced global economic growth from 2.9 to -3 percent, and 81 percent of the workforce has been affected by the disease, he said: "Like other countries in the world, the Islamic Republic of Iran took different approaches to fight it and we had a very good performance in designing and implementing these methods”.

Rouhani continued saying: "During the coronavirus outbreak, about 1,500 hospital beds have been added to the country's medical system”.

“I would like to appreciate different sectors of the country, especially the medical staff, who have provided great services and valuable efforts,” Rouhani added.

People's healthy items must be provided by all production units across the country and everyone must observe health protocols, Rouhani said.

“After a round of public closures of unnecessary activities and the following reopening, it was emphasized that the more reopening is done, the stricter observing health protocols must be followed,” he continued.

Rouhani added, "Unfortunately, we see that some consider being infected with the virus bad and hide it. If someone knows that they have been infected with coronavirus, they have religious and human duty to inform others about it”.

“It is necessary that we promote the culture for countering this problem. Until the vaccine and medicine for this disease are provided, people should assume that everybody may be infected, and therefore, should take the maximum care and precaution in social relations with individuals,” said Rouhani.

He also added, "From tomorrow (Sunday), using masks in crowded public places must be mandatory and if someone wants to receive services in a public department without wearing mask, they must be asked to use a mask”.

Rouhani continued, "In order to overcome the difficult conditions of fighting coronavirus, the service provider and receiver must observe health protocols, and these protocols must be observed in places where service is provided”.

According to the Spokeswoman for the Ministry of Health until Saturday,  237,878 people in the country have been infected with the coronavirus, and 198,949 of total infected have recovered.1,408 people so far lost their lives.

According to the spokeswoman, the provinces of Khuzestan, East and West Azerbaijan, Kurdistan, Kermanshah, Hormozgan, Bushehr, Khorasan Razavi, and Ilam are in a critical situation (Red Status).

The provinces of Tehran, Fars, Isfahan, Mazandaran, Hamadan, Zanjan, Sistan and Baluchestan, Alborz, and Lorestan are on alert.

The total number of people who have been infected with COVID-19 in the world has exceeded 11 million, 60% of which were infected in the past month, according to the World Health Organization.

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