BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 31
By Elnur Baghishov – Trend:
More than 106 trillion rials (about $2.53 billion) in loans have been disbursed to businesses affected by the spread of the coronavirus in Iran's Tehran province, Deputy Governor of Tehran Province Heshmatollah Asghari said, Trend reports citing the Governor Office’s official website.
According to Asghari, these loans will be issued with a 12-percent interest rate, and there will be no loan repayment for 4 months.
Asghari added that the loans of 160 million rials (about $3,800) are planned to issued to the production enterprises for each workforce. Some 50 percent of it is intended for the payment of salaries, and 50 percent for other expenses.
The official said that economic enterprises of the province must be registered to receive loans.
Due to the spread of the coronavirus in Iran, a number of restrictions have been imposed, and as a result of the restrictions, many production facilities have ceased operations. The lifting of restrictions began in stages on April 11.
Iran continues to monitor the coronavirus situation in the country. According to recent reports from the Iranian officials, over 148,900 people have been infected 7,734 people have already died. Meanwhile, over 116,800 have reportedly recovered from the disease.
The country continues to apply strict measures to contain the further spread. Reportedly, the disease was brought to Iran by a businessman from Iran's Qom city, who went on a business trip to China, despite official warnings. The man died later from the disease.
The Islamic Republic only announced its first infections and deaths from the coronavirus on Feb. 19.
The outbreak in the Chinese city of Wuhan - which is an international transport hub - began at a fish market in late December 2019.
The World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11 declared COVID-19 a pandemic. Some sources claim the coronavirus outbreak started as early as November 2019.