Coronavirus Cases in Iran Rise to 593: Official
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The spokesman for Iran’s National Headquarters for Coronavirus Management said that over the past 24 hours, 205 more people have been confirmed to have contracted the new coronavirus, known as COVID-19, bringing the total number of cases to 593.
Speaking to the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting on Saturday, Kianoush Jahanpour said, “In total, we have had 205 new cases of coronavirus infections in the last 24 hours.”
Among the new cases, 52 were in Tehran province, 21 in Qom, 17 in Guilan, 22 in Golestan, the spokesman added.
The total number of patients with the infectious disease since the first day of the outbreak to date is 593, of whom 43 have died, he said, adding that 123 patients have also recovered.
Medical staff in 20 provinces of Iran have been working tirelessly over the past week to contain the novel coronavirus that has originated from China.
Following the increase of coronavirus increase, the Iranian government ordered the shutting of schools until Tuesday and extended the closure of universities and a ban on concerts and sports events for a week.
Several high-ranking officials, including the deputy health minister and five lawmakers, have tested positive for the coronavirus as the spread of the outbreak forced the government to call on people to stay at home.
The rapid spread of the coronavirus has fuelled fears of a pandemic, with six countries reporting their first cases this week as the World Health Organization raised its global risk alert to “very high”. In China, it has killed more than 2,800 people and infected about 79,000 after it emerged late last year in the central city of Wuhan.
