Coronavirus Fatalities Drop in Iran’s Gilan Province


TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Death rates from the novel coronavirus have begun to decline for the first time since the outbreak of the disease in Iran’s northern province of Gilan, one of the hardest-hit areas, an official announced.

Speaking to reporters in the provincial city of Rasht on Thursday, the Iranian Health Minister’s representative in Gilan said the number of deaths from COVID-19 has begun to drop in the province.

Mohammad Hossein Qorbani also noted that 1,100,000 people, or 40 percent of population of the province, have been screened for coronavirus under the National Mobilization Plan for the fight against COVID-19.

The health official reiterated that Gilan is no way a holiday resort under the current circumstances, warning people to avoid traveling to the northern province, or the health of all local residents may be threatened.

The hospitals and medical centers of Gilan are inadequate for its own population, let alone travelers infected with coronavirus, he said.

Qorbani also asked people to continue cooperation with the Health Ministry, stay at home, and refrain from unnecessary outdoor activities in order to “cut the chain” of spread of the disease.

The number of coronavirus infections in the country rose to 9,000 on Wednesday, out of whom 354 have died and 2,959 have recovered and been discharged from the hospital.