Iran plans to reopen mosques and schools in areas that have been consistently free of the coronavirus as President Hassan Rouhani's government starts to ease restrictions that were aimed at containing the outbreak.
"Mosques will reopen in 132 low-risk or 'white cities' and towns from Monday. Friday prayer sermons will resume in those areas as well ... However, all these steps will be taken by respecting the health protocols," Rouhani said in a televised meeting.
Iran's health ministry has divided the country into white, yellow and red areas based on the number of infections and deaths.
Rouhani did not give the names of the counties affected by the measure or the number of mosques due to reopen on Monday.
The ministry said on Saturday that the trajectory of infections has started a "gradual" downward trend in Iran.
On Sunday the health ministry said the country's coronavirus death toll had risen to 6,203 after 47 people died in the past 24 hours, and the total number of diagnosed cases had reached 97,424.
Iran has already lifted a ban on inter-city trips and malls, with large shopping centers resuming activities despite warnings by some health officials of a new wave of infections.
School and university closures were maintained and cultural and sports gatherings are also still banned, though Rouhani said the plan is for some schools to reopen soon.
"The schools in the white and low-risk areas will reopen from May 16 ... However, we will continue to review the situation," he said.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards on Sunday announced they were cancelling the annual day of protests against Israel known as Quds (Jerusalam) Day seemingly over the coronavirus pandemic.
Spokesman Ramezan Sharif, quoted by Fars news agency, said the move was in line with the cancellation across Iran of other ceremonies and the closing of holy places.
"Let's not worry about what the enemy might say," he added.
