Wearing masks, mother and daughter Parmis Hashemi, 13 years old, walked on unusually quiet streets in the capital Tehran on the afternoon of March 2, when local officials had just announced a new Covid-19 outbreak.
`My legs hurt so walking was really difficult, but I couldn’t catch a taxi or bus. Parmis was bored staying at home all the time so I took her out to regain her spirits,` Shahpar
Schools across the country are closed to prevent the spread of Covid-19, an epidemic caused by nCoV that has killed more than 77 people and infected more than 2,300 people in Iran.
`The children don’t go to school and they are very afraid of nCoV,` Shahpar shared.
A woman wearing a mask is looking at her phone in the capital Tehran.
Few cars and buses passed through Vanak Square, one of Tehran’s largest intersections, which should have been packed with traffic at this time of day.
However, that does not make 39-year-old engineer Pejman feel comfortable because of the fear of nCoV spreading.
Not only people, many businesses in Tehran are also suffering because of Covid-19.
`It is negatively impacting our company. They check our body temperature every morning before entering the office,` Pejman said.
The impact of Covid-19 on the economy can be clearly seen on the streets.
`The streets are deserted. My job is to take people where they want to go, but now no one leaves home,` taxi driver Jamshidi said while his colleagues ate and joked with each other.
`If the situation continues like this, we won’t even have enough money to eat. Yesterday I earned very little, and today I haven’t received any guests,` he added.
Hamid Bayot, owner of a juice shop in Vanat Square, said her revenue has dropped 80% since Covid-19 broke out last month, even though they have taken many measures to reassure customers.
`We disinfect everything in the store three times a day. But people are still afraid and don’t dare to buy anything here. If this continues, we will probably go bankrupt,` Bayot said.
A man wearing a mask walks outside a fast food restaurant in the capital Tehran.
In an effort to help relieve boredom among young people, Iranian state television has broadcast light entertainment programs instead of dry news channels as before.
`We have to stay at home and don’t know what to do. We can’t see our friends and feel really bored,` Parmis said angrily through the mask her mother made her wear.
Thanh Tam (According to AFP)