The coronavirus outbreak began in late 2019 in China and quickly escalated into a global crisis that transformed the lives of people around the world.

Iran was among the countries hit hard early on, facing intense waves of the pandemic in early 2020. Its cities, including Shiraz, were soon caught in a web of restrictions and profound social change.

From the first nights of lockdown, when cities fell silent and streets emptied out, to vaccine lines and the tireless efforts of healthcare workers, the virus affected not just physical health but also the social, economic, and cultural fabric of society.

In Shiraz like in many parts of Iran people stood together with both fear and hope. Markets and neighborhoods were disinfected, burials were carried out under strict health protocols, and the production of masks and medical supplies ramped up rapidly.

These days revealed how a city and its people endured a global crisis and continued to move forward with life.