page_title: COVID-19 pandemic in Iran
section_title: International reaction
hierarchical_section_title: COVID-19 pandemic in Iran / International reaction
caption_attribution_description: فارسی: نشست مدیران شهری با نمایندگان سازمان بهداشت جهانی
context_page_description: The COVID-19 pandemic in Iran is part of the worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. On 19 February 2020, Iran reported its first confirmed cases of infections in Qom. The virus may have been brought to the country by a merchant from Qom who had travelled to China.
  In response to the coronavirus the government cancelled public events and Friday prayers; closed schools, universities, shopping centres, bazaars, and holy shrines; and banned festival celebrations. Economic measures were also announced to help families and businesses, and the pandemic is credited with compelling the government to make an unprecedented request for an emergency loan of five billion US dollars from the International Monetary Fund. The government initially rejected plans to quarantine entire cities and areas, and heavy traffic between cities continued ahead of Nowruz, despite the government's intention to limit travel. The government later announced a ban on travel between cities following an increase in the number of new cases. Government restrictions were gradually eased starting in April.
context_section_description: On 20 February, a SARS-CoV-2 confirmed case was reported for a woman in her 30s who had arrived in Canada from Iran. On 25 February, a woman in her 60s, and the next day her husband, who was also in his 60s, tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. On 21 February, Lebanon confirmed the first COVID-19 case, a 45-year-old woman travelling from Qom. On 24 February, neighbouring countries Kuwait, Iraq, and Bahrain announced that they had recorded their first coronavirus cases from people who came from Iran. According to Oman's Health Ministry, two Omani women who visited Iran were infected with the coronavirus. On 26 February, Pakistan announced two persons had been diagnosed with COVID-19, one of them known to have visited Iran. Georgia confirmed its first COVID-19 case, a 50-year-old Georgian man who returned from Iran. China confirmed a man in Zhongwei, Ningxia, who returned from Iran, tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. Estonia confirmed the first COVID-19 case, an Iranian citizen living in Estonia who returned from Iran. Kuwait confirmed 43 cases of COVID-19, all of them involved people who had travelled to Iran in February. Germany, Norway, Sweden, and Spain also confirmed new cases involving individuals with previous travel to Iran. On 28 February, New Zealand and Belarus reported their first cases of COVID-19, both involving people who had traveled from Iran. On 29 February, Qatar reported the first infection in a citizen who was evacuated from Iran.
  On 1 March, Armenia announced its first case of coronavirus infection, identified in a man who had returned from Iran. On 5 March, India confirmed a case in a citizen who recently travelled to Iran. Thailand announced the 46th and 47th confirmed cases in the country were a 22-year-old Chinese and 20-year-old Thai who had recently travelled to Iran. On 9 March, Iran was recognized as a source spreading coronavirus to other countries. All of Iran's neighboring states put some kind of limitations on travel or closed their borders with Iran. Shanghai confirmed four imported cases from Iran. The Chinese province of Gansu also confirmed 25 imported cases from Iran.
caption: World Health Organization representatives holding joint meeting with Tehran administrators
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