Seeing her daughter depressed with being "locked" in the house for several days, Parmis Hashemi's mother decided to take her to shopping despite the risk of nCoV infection.

Wearing a mask, 13-year-old Parmis Hashemi and children walked on unusually quiet streets in the capital Tehran on the afternoon of March 2, when local authorities had just announced a new outbreak of Covid-19. in this country.

"My leg hurts so it's really hard to walk, but I couldn't catch any taxi or bus. Parmis was bored at home all the time so I took her out to regain her spirits," Shahpar said. , says Parmis' mother.

Schools across the country are closed to prevent the spread of Covid-19, an epidemic caused by nCoV that has left more than 77 dead and more than 2,300 people infected in Iran.

"The children are not at school and they are very afraid of nCoV," Shahpar said.

Very few cars and buses travel around Vanak Square, one of the largest crossroads in the capital, Tehran, which should have been full of traffic at this time of day. The city of more than 8 million people is also becoming less polluted, thanks in part to reducing traffic congestion.

However, that did not make 39-year-old engineer Pejman comfortable by the fear of spreading nCoV. "The disease has disrupted our normal lives. We are afraid of no masks, alcohol or antiseptic solution. Everyone needs them but cannot find them anymore," he said.

Not only people, many businesses in Tehran also suffer because of Covid-19. Pejman said some of his colleagues suspected of being infected with nCoV should be asked to isolate at home.

"It is having a negative impact on our company. They check our body temperature every morning before entering the office," Pejman said.

The effect of Covid-19 on the economy can be clearly seen on the streets. Shop staff play video games to kill time, cleaning staff meticulously clean the doors of the empty restaurant, taxis lying on the side of the road waiting for passengers.

"The streets are all deserted. My job is to get everyone where they want to go, but no one is leaving now," taxi driver Jamshidi said as his colleagues ate and teased each other. .

"If the situation continues like this, we won't even have enough money to eat. I made very little yesterday, and today I haven't received any customers," he added.

Hamid Bayot, owner of a juice shop in Vanat Square, said her sales have dropped 80% since Covid-19 broke out last month, though they have taken steps to reassure customers.

"We disinfect everything at the store three times a day. But people are still scared and don't dare to buy anything here. If this keeps up, we'll probably collapse the shop," Bayot said.

In an effort to help young people be less depressed, Iranian state television broadcasts light-hearted entertainment instead of the dry channels like before. Funny family videos have been playing for the past few days, and there's also the Pink Panther cartoon on March 2, The Revenant trailer, The movie has Join actor Leonardo DiCaprio.

"We have to stay in the house and do not know what to do. We do not see friends and feel bored," Parmis said frustratingly through the mask his mother wore.