Measures to Control Covid-۱۹ Epidemic in Public and Reduce the Patient Load in Hospitals: A Report From Iran

After presenting the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-۲) in china, it has spread rapidly in the community and now has declared as a pandemic causing coronavirus disease ۲۰۱۹ (COVID-۱۹). At the date of writing this report, the COVID-۱۹ has affected ۱۹۲ countries and one international conveyance (the Diamond Princess cruise ship harbored in Yokohama, Japan) around the world with the total cases of ۳۴۱,۵۲۹. In Iran, the emergence of the disease was reported with two cases of COVID-۱۹ deaths in Qom city on February ۱۹, ۲۰۲۰, that caused great concern for the health system and the general public. It was rapidly spread around the country and reach to ۲۱,۶۳۸ definite cases by March ۲۲, ۲۰۲۰. The special nature of the disease in rapid transmission among individuals in society requires urgent measures and serious actions to control it as quickly as possible. In this report, we describe the current status of the COVID-۱۹ response strategy for reducing transmission in public and patient load in hospitals in Iran. Although Iran has tried to use the successful experience of other countries, such as China, for various reasons, such as non-quarantine of Qom province, as the primary site of disease propagation, lack of public quarantine, lack of seriousness by some citizens and officials, the lack of facilities and personal protective equipment needed for staff use, and restrictions regarding purchasing equipment from other countries due to international sanctions, have served as obstacles to achieve good results.

Keywords:

Outbreak , COVID-۱۹ , Iran , Pandemic