An ancient celebration is about to make Iran’s coronavirus nightmare even worse
Iranians are preparing to celebrate the biggest holiday of the year — even as they confront an expanding coronavirus pandemic. The combination is likely to result in calamity.
Nowruz, when Iranians mark the transition from winter to spring, is the equivalent of New Year’s and Christmas rolled into one. Most institutions in the country shut down for two weeks. Those who can afford it usually chose this time to travel. With foreign air routes mostly shut to Iran because of the virus, that travel was already destined to be almost entirely domestic. Many use the opportunity to make religious pilgrimages, which can result in huge crowds congregating at particular sites.… Seguir leyendo »