Iran locks down capital amid COVID surge ahead of Eid holiday

Six-day lockdowns imposed ahead of Eid al-Adha holiday as Delta variant drives Iran’s fifth major wave of infections.

Tehran, Iran – Provinces of Tehran and neighbouring Alborz have been put under lockdown by the Iranian government for six days starting on Tuesday as COVID-19 cases have risen sharply ahead of Eid al-Adha holidays. Iran celebrates the Muslim holiday on Wednesday and the following two days are the country’s weekend, which usually prompt millions to travel, mostly to the cooler provinces to the north of the country. More than 200 daily deaths in July – about half of which are being recorded in the capital – and more than 25,000 daily cases –  the highest figure since April – have spurred authorities to enforce the lockdown that will last until Sunday.