Streets empty as Iran's virus death toll tops 3,000

Tehran's streets were empty and shops remain closed as the death toll from the coronavirus surpassed 3,000 between Tuesday and Wednesday. On Wednesday, police blocked routes to parks and other resorts to prevent citizens from gathering and celebrate the so-called 'Nature Day' outside.

Every year, Iranian families spend the day in parks and countryside to mark the end of Nowruz holidays. But this year they have to stay at home. The government has enforced travel bans, threatening those that violate the rules with fines and banned newspapers from publication for an extra week.

Iran has the highest number of coronavirus cases in the Middle East with 47,593 people infected and 3,036 fatalities, health officials reported.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and could lead to death.