Coronavirus: Iranian New Year celebrations in Sydney on hold
Sydney’s Iranians have scrapped planned public celebrations and will instead mark the traditional Iranian New Year at home, as coronavirus hits the community and local businesses hard.
Parramatta
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Sydney’s Iranian community is planning low-key celebrations to usher in their traditional new year following the decision to scrap big events because of the coronavirus.
Nowruz, also known as Persian New Year, is on Friday, March 20.
The coronavirus death toll in Iran has soared to 92 and the virus has swept all of the country’s provinces, making it the country with the highest death toll outside China, where the outbreak started.
A total of 2922 people have been infected with the virus.
In Australia, a 41-year-old woman contracted coronavirus from her 43-year-old Iranian brother who flew into Sydney on a Qatar flight on Saturday.
Aria Persian Fast Food owner Hossain Naseri said business was slower than usual at his North Parramatta eatery.
“There’s a huge impact on the business,’’ he said.
“Lots of people are avoiding eating out and we have less customers since this news and obviously it has a huge impact on every aspect.”
“We’re trying to avoid celebrations but all the parties are going to be cancelled,’’ he said.
“We just celebrate with our family.”
The Toongabbie newlywed is planning a quiet gathering with eight relatives and is confident the coronavirus will soon recede.
“We’re just trying to look after each other and take care of each other,’’ he said.
“I know there’s a cure, it’s not going to last forever.’’
Guildford resident Sabaf Sharifi, who is five months’ pregnant with her first child, will also celebrate Nowruz with her family instead of attending a huge community event.
“If people come back from Iran, you have to be sure they don’t have a virus,’’ she said.
