Closure of Primary Schools in Tehran on Monday and Tuesday Due to Air Pollution

Following the meteorological organization's prediction of reaching red air quality status in Tehran, Karaj, Arak, Isfahan, Ahvaz, Mashhad, and Tabriz, kindergartens and primary schools in Tehran have been declared closed on Monday and Tuesday, and Tehran's emergency services are on standby. According to the state news agency IRNA, Mohammad Hadi Heydarzadeh, secretary of Tehran's air pollution emergency committee, announced on Sunday, January 27, that based on the committee's resolution, kindergartens, preschools, and primary schools in Tehran and areas one and two, as well as Kahrizak and Rey County, will be closed on Monday and Tuesday. According to the committee's resolution, the working hours for government and private sector offices, except for banks, medical centers, and law enforcement and military forces in Tehran and Rey County, will start two hours late on Tuesday. The implementation of the odd-even traffic plan for vehicles starting on Monday and the suspension of daily traffic permits until the end of Tuesday are among other resolutions made by this committee for these two days. Additionally, according to the state news agency IRNA, Touhid Seyfbarqi, head of the medical committee of the Football Federation, announced the cancellation of matches on Monday for veteran and under-18 leagues. Meanwhile, according to ISNA news agency, Hassan Abbasi, spokesperson for Tehran's emergency services, reported that due to the intensification of air pollution, emergency personnel are on standby but have not yet received orders for deployment in the streets. On Saturday, IRNA reported that meteorological maps indicated an increase in pollutants in the air of Tehran, Karaj, Arak, Isfahan, Ahvaz, Mashhad, and Tabriz on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday of this week, indicating 'unhealthy conditions for all individuals' in these cities. Majid Azadi, head of the dynamic meteorology group at the Meteorological Research Institute, also predicted that air stagnation and subsequent accumulation of pollutants in Tehran's air would 'peak' on Tuesday, January 29. Based on the 'health significance level of the air quality index,' the concentration of particulate matter with a diameter of less than 2.5 microns in the air has been reported in the range of 101 to 150 as 'unhealthy for sensitive groups' (orange) and in the range of 151 to 200 as 'unhealthy' (red). In recent months, with the air pollution in Tehran reaching red status in several days, the odd-even traffic plan has been implemented in Tehran, and kindergartens, preschools, and primary schools in this city and in Isfahan, Tabriz, Arak, and Karaj have been closed multiple times. Meanwhile, Alireza Mehrabian, an expert at the air monitoring center in Arak, reported that on Sunday, the air quality index in Arak was 'in a warning status.' In this context, the Iranian General Inspection Organization has entered the issue of air pollution in major cities. The continuation of air pollution in major cities has led to schools being closed again. The unhealthy air quality in Tehran has prompted warnings to the government in parliament. Air pollution in Tehran continues, with schools active but morning sports canceled. Tehran's air has been in unhealthy conditions for the thirteenth consecutive day. 'Tehran's air has exited the warning status,' but school closures continue. All schools in Tehran are closed, and emergency services are on standby due to air pollution. Warnings have been issued regarding the severity of air pollution in Tehran: stay indoors as much as possible.