Pres. Rouhani: Islamic, Republic aspects two key pillars for our system, people

AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): Iran's President chaired the session of National Task Force for Fighting Coronavirus on Tuesday and said, "People's cooperation and support is fundamental and if the Islamic Republic of Iran has been able to achieve good results in fighting coronavirus to date, it is because of people's support and cooperation".

Parts of President Hassan Rouhani's speech is as follows:

In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

41 years ago on March 31, the Islamic Republic of Iran was announced as the country's permanent political system with people's resounding vote, and one of the greatest honours of the Islamic Revolution was that it led us to the Islamic Republic and today, both Islamic and Republic aspects are two key pillars for the system and people.

I want to express my special thanks to the great people of Iran who have cooperated well with the National Task Force for Fighting Coronavirus since the beginning of the outbreak of the virus.

We have implemented the Social Distancing programme at different stages and people supported us in every stage. At the first stage, we told people they could continue their trip if no symptoms were found in them during the screening programme.

At second stage, we told people not to travel to other provinces, except for emergency situations, and those travelers who had exited their province return to their home, and people cooperated.

When we emphasised that except for grocery, health and medical stores others need to be closed until April 8, people cooperated.

People's cooperation and support is fundamental and if the Islamic Republic of Iran has been able to achieve good results in fighting coronavirus to date, it is because of people's support and cooperation.

God tested us three times after the Islamic Revolution's victory. The first was the Sacred Defence when peopled defended their independence, dignity and system for 8 years.

The second test was sanctions; long sanctions that were imposed on our people for many years, especially in the latest 10 to 12 years and the recent two years, which have been the toughest sanctions.

The third test is coronavirus, which can easily be compared with other parts of the world. Our people endured hard days. It was Nowruz holidays and people wanted to travel and visit holy shrines.

But when we compared it with other countries, the successes we have achieved in this this regard are very important.

Today, the figures that health ministry presented in this session was a comparison report by the World Health Organisation showing that Iran is in better conditions compared to other countries.

These figures show that people have supported and cooperated, and the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) explained to people what was necessary and people listened.

Therefore, I want to appreciate the great work that has been done in our country. The figures that our health ministry presented today were very promising and hospital check-ins have reduced in some provinces, and check-outs have increased.

The figures show that the effects of the disease in western and European countries are different from Iran. This means that the surge in other countries cannot be seen in Iran. This shows that our people, with their high culture, doctors and nurses and the country's management have all come on the stage with their full power.

Today, it was announced at this very session that the treatment of patients is in better conditions because of the Healthcare Reform Plan with better ICUs and hospitals.

We have 8,600 special care beds in the country, if it were not for the Healthcare Reform Plan and if we had 4,000 or 5,000 beds instead, we would have problems.

The effects of what began last year in the field of Electronic Health can be seen today. It is with this Electronic Health System that the screening is done and people are contacted and informed.

The interesting point that was made in today's session was that the disease does not have a medicine yet, and it was even said that what is being said about the treatment is not right.

There are some points that I want to tell people. Tomorrow is Nature's Day on which our people used to exit their houses and go outside in parks and jungles until afternoon. This year, we are in special conditions.

Our request from people is to do us a favour and stay home; of course, parks are closed but we ask people to leave the tradition for a better time after we overcome this crisis.

A few points were approved at the meeting that are very important, the first being that if anyone finds out that their coronavirus test is positive and has been infected with the virus, he or she must quarantine themselves.

If they feel ill, they must make sure to go to the hospital and if they are okay, go to a resort in the city and introduce themselves and rest there for 10 to 15 days as a quarantine, and if someone does not do so after being informed that their test is positive but they don't pay attention, they have violated the rules of the country and harmed others and they are subject to the law and will be punished.

Secondly, today we approved that places that perform the test or hospitals that are clinically aware that someone is infected with the virus should notify a close family member.

Of course, regarding whether it's confidential or not, confidentiality is one thing and the disease is something that should not be disclosed to others, but this is a special case as it affects others.

Another thing that our people need to know and very important is what protocol should be implemented after April 8. Today we approved what had previously been discussed regarding expanding the protocol until April 8.

Again, I thank the people and recommend them to pay attention to all health protocols. These difficulties, though causing some problems for some in life, were some of the hardships that were necessary for society and health.

We hope that people cooperate with the police, law enforcement, Basij, and all forces at the gates of the cities, so that God helps us to overcome these conditions with each other's help.

Wassalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh

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