Alireza Zaali, the official in charge of Tehran’s headquarters for combatting the novel coronavirus, has sounded the alarm over the high number of cases in the province and asked for an extension of the weeklong lockdown.
In a letter addressed to the Health Ministry, Zaali said that those who have been hospitalized and deaths in Tehran province are at a critical point. On Oct. 3 officials announced that Tehran would be shut down until Oct. 8. All schools, salons, museums, libraries, mosques, restaurants and other areas where public gatherings take place were ordered close for the week. Zaali’s request, if accepted, would extend the shutdown to Oct. 15.