3 Army Hospitals Designated for Coronavirus Patients: Iranian Commander
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Deputy Chief of Iran’s Army for Coordination Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari highlighted the Army’s efforts to help counter the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, known as COVID-19, saying the force has designated three of its hospitals for the treatment of coronavirus patients.
“The Armed forces, including the Islamic Republic of Iran's Army, are at the forefront… in the battle against the coronavirus,” Rear Admiral Sayyari said in a speech on Saturday.
“The Army has stepped up to the plate in full force and we have put in place the necessary capacities that have been considered by the Ministry of Health,” he said.
The top commander went on to say that in a bid to help the people and based on agreements reached, the Army has designated three hospitals for combating the coronavirus.
The remarks came as Kianoush Jahanpour, the spokesman for Iran’s National Headquarters for Coronavirus Management, said on Saturday that 205 more people have been confirmed to have contracted the new coronavirus, bringing the total number of cases to 593.
He added that 43 of those infected with the virus have died while 123 patients have 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.