Iran calls off Friday prayers as death toll jumps to 26
Entry of Chinese citizens banned; several senior officials among those infected
Iran said yesterday its death toll from coronavirus had risen to 26, the highest number of fatalities from the virus outside China, and the total number of infected people was 245, including several senior officials.
The outbreak prompted authorities to call off Friday prayers in several cities including Tehran, state TV later reported, while state news agency IRNA said Iran has banned Chinese citizens from entering the country. Those infected include Masoumeh Ebtekar, the vice president for women and family affairs, and the country’s deputy health minister Iraj Harirchi. Ebtekar’s case was said to be mild and she has not been hospitalised.
‘Avoid unnecessary trips’
“In the last 24 hours, we have had 106 (new) confirmed cases ... The death toll has reached 26,” Health Ministry spokesman Kianush Jahanpur said, calling on Iranians to avoid “unnecessary trips inside the country”.
Jahanpur said there were plans to impose some restrictions at Shi’ite sites and cancel some sermons on Friday, the Islamic Republic’s traditional day of public prayer.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Ministry said “some 20,000 coronavirus test kits and some other material” would be delivered to Iran on Friday from China.
“A Mahan Air plane will transfer this cargo, which has been prepared by China’s Red Crescent, to Iran,” said the ministry’s spokesman Abbas Mousavi.
The death rate among confirmed cases of the virus has been much higher in Iran than elsewhere. The World Health Organisation said this was likely due to the country’s surveillance systems not yet picking up mild cases. President Hassan Rouhani, said that Iran had no plans to quarantine any “cities and districts” despite the sharp rise in numbers in a short time.
In the last 24 hours, we have had 106 [new] confirmed cases... The death toll has reached 26. We call on all Iranians to avoid unnecessary trips inside the country.”
Kianush Jahanpur | Iran health ministry official