‘Wash your hands,’ Iran’s Khamenei advises

duBaI (reuters) – Iran’s supreme leader ayatollah ali Khamenei said on tuesday that Iranians should follow the recommendations of authorities to prevent the spread of coronavirus, as the deputy health minister reported more infections and a higher death toll of 77.

speaking on state tV, he also described the outbreak as “not something extraordinary.”

Iran has had the highest number of deaths from coronavirus outside china, where it originated, and several officials have been infected – including the head of Iran’s emergency medical services, Ilna news agency reported on tuesday.

the death of one top official was reported on monday.

Khamenei said the government and armed forces should give full support to the health ministry and authorities have dealt transparently with the virus’s spread.

“don’t violate the recommendations and instructions of the responsible authorities in terms of prevention, in terms of keeping hands, face and living environment clean and not infecting these and preventing the infection of these,” he said.

separately, deputy health minister alireza raisi said 2,336 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed.

“Based on the latest statistics that have been compiled there have been an additional 835 definite new infections. unfortunately we have 11 new deaths,” he said.

those infected with coronavirus include the head of emergency medical services, pirhossein Kolivand, Ilna reported.

lawmaker abdolreza mesri said 23 members of parliament have been infected, according to state tV-affiliated website yjc. he did not specify the infections’ timings.

the announcement of dozens of deaths and hundreds of infections has led some on social media to accuse authorities of a cover up.