General Outlines Iranian Armed Forces’ Help in Coronavirus Fight
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – A senior spokesman for the General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces provided information about the measures that the military forces have taken in coordination with the Health Ministry to contain the coronavirus epidemic.
In remarks on Saturday, Brigadier General Abolfazl Shekarchi said the General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces set up a special headquarters after an order issued by Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei to arrange the plans to fight against COVID-19.
He said the Health Ministry has requested the Armed Forces to offer assistance in coronavirus screening at stationary and mobile medical centers, noting that the nationwide plan was launched on Friday and will be carried out within a short time span.
The general also noted that a large section of beds at the hospitals run by the Armed Forces have been allocated to the coronavirus patients, and that the number of the hospital beds provided by the military forces will be doubled.
The Armed Forces, particularly the Defense Ministry, have also agreed to the Health Ministry’s request for logistical support in the production of masks and disinfectants as well as in the field of research, he said.
Shekarchi went on to say that the Armed Forces and the Basij units are also helping the Health Ministry in providing the manpower needed to address the situation.
On a major decision made by the Coronavirus Battle National Headquarters to “cut off the chain of COVID-19 contagion”, the senior general said police forces are going to take part in the initiative in order to stimulate public cooperation and enlighten the public in this regard.
Elsewhere in his remarks, Shekarchi deplored the media propaganda launched by foreigners with the purpose of provoking the public and misrepresenting the plans of the General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, cautioning the people to be aware of those hostile attempts.
On Thursday, Ayatollah Khamenei cited clues to a possible “biological attack” on Iran in the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, ordering the Armed Forces to set up a “health and medical base” to organize the efforts to prevent the spread of the disease.
The Leader assigned the Armed Forces to work on the necessary methods to prevent a further spread of coronavirus, in addition to the other activities such as treatment of patients and establishment of medical centers like field hospitals and convalescent homes.