By Staff, Agencies Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani said the country’s new smart distancing initiative aimed at containing the COVID-19 pandemic will come into effect from April 11 and must be followed by all. “The initiative must be implemented strictly under the close supervision of the Health Ministry and the National Headquarters to Fight the Coronavirus,” Rouhani said in a phone conversation with Iranian Health Minister Saeed Namaki on Thursday.

Rouhani further said that the new measures will come into force on Saturday, stressing that all health protocols need to be observed by all.

On April 4, the Rouhani unveiled a plan for smart social distancing across the country as a new phase of measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

One day later, he announced that low-risk economic activities would resume from April 11.

Rouhani has repeatedly called on Iranians to stay indoors, noting that social-distancing and self-quarantining have helped the country’s health authorities make major breakthroughs in their battle against the viral infection