Iran Offered Help from Int’l NGOs to Combat Coronavirus: Official
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – A senior official at Iran’s Health Ministry announced that some foreign NGOs have voiced their readiness to help Iran in the efforts to control the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, known as COVID-19.
In remarks on Monday, Mohsen Assadi Lari said the Foreign Ministry has announced that it has received numerous reports of phone calls made by foreign and international NGOs to the embassies of the Islamic Republic in many countries regarding their willingness to help contain the coronavirus in Iran.
He added that following Health Minister Saeed Namaki's approval, the Ministry of Health is also ready to receive the assistance.
According to the Health Ministry, the death toll from the COVID-19 outbreak in Iran rose to 66 on Monday, with the confirmed cases of infection surpassing 1,500.
The ministry said out of 7,280 people who have gone to medical centers across the country so far, 4,312 are suspicious cases.
Medical staffs in 20 provinces of Iran have been working tirelessly over the past days to contain the novel coronavirus that has originated from China.
Following the increase of coronavirus increase, the Iranian government ordered the shutting of schools and 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.