Hard-line Shiites storm Iran shrines closed over coronavirus

Hard-line Shiite faithful in Iran pushed ir way into courtyards of two major shrines just closed over fears of new coronavirus, Iranian state media reported Tuesday, as Islamic Republic pressed on with its struggle to control Mideast’s worst outbreak.

Roughly nine out of 10 of over 17,000 cases of new virus confirmed across Middle East come from Iran, where authorities denied for days risk outbreak posed. Officials have w implemented new checks for people trying to leave major cities ahe of wruz, Persian New Year, on Friday, but have hesitated to quarantine areas.

Late on Monday night, angry crowds stormed into courtyards of Mashh’s Imam Reza shrine and Qom’s Fatima Masumeh shrine. Crowds typically pray re 24 hours a day, seven days a week, touching and kissing shrine. That’s worried health officials, who for weeks ordered Iran’s Shiite clergy to close m.

Earlier on Monday, state TV h anunced shrines’ closure, sparking demonstrations.

“We are here to say that Tehran is damn wrong to do that!” one Shiite cleric shouted at shrine in Mashh, according to online video. Ors joined him in chanting: “ health minister is damn wrong to do that, president is damn wrong to do that!”

Police later dispersed crowds, state media reported. Religious authorities and a prominent Qom seminary called demonstration an “insult” to shrine in a statement, urging faithful to rely on “wisdom and patience” amid closure.

Iran’s shrines draw Shiites from all over Mideast for pilgrims, likely contributing to spre of virus across region. Saudi Arabia earlier closed off Islam’s holiest sites over fear of virus spreing.

President Hassan Rouhani on Tuesday said despite closures, “our soul is closer to saints more than at any time.”

State TV reported that Iran h deployed teams to screen travelers leaving major cities in 13 provinces, including capital, Tehran. But Iran has 31 provinces and authorities haven’t taken step to lock down country like in allied nations of Iraq and Leban.

teams check travelers’ temperatures and will send those with fevers to quarantine centers. Iran has been urging people to stay home, but many have igred call.

Apparently in efforts to curb spre of virus, Iran has released 85,000 prisoners on temporary leave, judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Esmaili said Tuesday. He said that included half of all “security-related” prisoners, without elaborating. Western nations have called on Iran to release dual nationals and ors held allegedly as bargaining chips in negotiations.

Among those released is Mohamm Hossein Karroubi, son of opposition leer Mehdi Karroubi, who was in jail for nearly two months.

Most people infected by new coronavirus experience only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough, and recover within weeks. But virus is highly contagious and can be spre by people with visible symptoms. For some, especially older ults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.

In Oman, sultanate anunced anyone coming from abro would be subject to quarantine.

Meanwhile in Israel, Defense Ministry was to roll out its plan to use near-empty hotel facilities, ravd by crash in tourism, as recovery centers for patients diagsed with COVID-19, illness caused by virus.

Two hotels are to begin receiving patients on Tuesday with ors likely to follow. facilities are to be overseen by medical officials with patients quarantined in rooms, and food and or amenities delivered to rooms by protected hotel staff.

Israel’s Defense Minister Naftali Bennett issued orders Tuesday to allow into Israel only those Palestinian workers and merchants whose work is deemed essential in health, agriculture, nursing and construction. Workers allowed in will stay in Israel for between one and two months.

Also, following an overnight Cabinet approval, Israel’s internal Shin Bet security service said it will begin deploying its phone-tracking techlogy to combat spre of virus. Shin Bet insisted use will be limited only to help “save lives” and warn those who have been exposed. Amid secrecy concerns, it said techlogy won’t be used to enforce quarantines and data will only be stored temporarily and available to just a select group of nts. emergency ordinance will be effective for 30 days.