Iranian officials fear 'fourth wave' sparked by winter festivities

Iranian officials on Sunday cautioned that a downward trend in coronavirus infections in the Middle East's worst-hit country could be reversed due to increased social contact which accompany winter festivities, as Tehran recorded its lowest daily count in nearly two months.

"The most important cause of Covid-19 transmission in the country is due to family gathering and parties", Sima Lari, a spokeswoman for Iran’s health ministry, told state TV.

Announcing 6,312 new coronavirus cases, the lowest since October 26, Lari urged the country's citizens to abstain from Yalda traditions which bring together members of the extended families in celebration of winter solstice.

"The current coronavirus situation in the country is fragile. If people do not comply (with health protocols), we could witness a fourth peak," warned Iraj Harirchi, a senior official at the health ministry.

Following a third peak of the virus, the Islamic republic was prompted to reimpose sweeping measures on November 21 to curb transmission.

On Saturday, Deputy Health Minister Alireza Raisi said that since then the county had seen a decline of 50% in daily coronavirus deaths.

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The official death count stood at 53,625 on Sunday, after 177 people died within 24 hours of the latest count.

Officials remain worried about the danger of resurgence amid the Yalda festivities, an ancient Zoroastrian rite, which marks the longest and darkest night of the year.

Shops have been ordered to close two hours earlier on weekends and a nightime traffic curfew already in place has been forward an hour to 8pm.

Read also: Iran, despite sanctions, has routes to vaccines

Separately, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei lauded the country's nurses for their efforts fighting the epidemic, in statements coinciding with ocassion of National Nurses Day in Iran.

"Our nurses' task has been more difficult during this coronavirus-inflicted year as they put their own lives at risk", Khamenei said in TV broadcast on Sunday.

The aging leader was conspicuously absent from the public eye over recent weeks as rumours circulated that his health had deteriorated.

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