Part of Iran’s oil-rich southwest goes under lockdown again

May 11, 2020

A part of southwestern Iran has gone under lockdown due a large jump in confirmed coronavirus cases.

Banks and offices will be closed for a week in Abadan, Reuters reported, citing Iran’s Tasnim News Agency.

Abadan is in the southwestern corner of Iran in oil-rich Khuzestan province. The governor said people were not observing social distancing in the city and county of Abadan, causing a big increase in the province’s total COVID-19 cases.

“Because of this, the number of coronavirus patients in the province has tripled and the hospitalization of patients has risen by 60%,” said Gholamreza Shariati, according to Reuters.

Entry and exit points into Abadan will be restricted. Nine other counties in the province will also be subject to office closures and travel restrictions, according to the report.