Iran: Six Central Bank employees die of coronavirus

Following the announcements of the deaths of Ali Khalafi, the deputy head of Iran’s all-powerful Judiciary, and Hussein Sheikh Al-Islam, adviser to the minister of foreign affairs, Fatima Rahbar, a deputy of the city of Tehran, has fallen into a coma after she also contracted the coronavirus, reported Iranian media on Friday.

Tasnim News Agency revealed that Rahbar’s condition is “very serious”.

Abdolnaser Hemmati, the governor of the Central Bank of Iran announced the deaths of six employees of the banking system due to the coronavirus. Hemmati posted in on Instagram: “According to the information we received, six dear and hard-working colleagues in the banking system have died due to the coronavirus while providing services to the citizens. Despite the risks of working in the bank’s branches, our colleagues in the banking system did not hesitate to consecrate the necessary efforts to serve people, especially in the branches of the Central Bank.”

READ: Iranian doctor expects 40% of Tehran population to catch coronavirus

The Iranian government had already reduced working hours by half in banks and government departments last week, to curb the spread of the coronavirus. However, the national committee for managing the coronavirus epidemic cancelled the decision during its meeting on Thursday, and ordered the resumption of official working hours, in addition to recommending granting leave to the employees alternately.

The Iranian Ministry of Health announced yesterday that the number of deaths due to the coronavirus has increased to 107, while 3,513 cases have been diagnosed with the virus in the country so far.

The government announced earlier that schools and universities will be closed for a month to limit the spread of the virus, while also confirming that it would set up barriers between cities to limit travelling and transmitting the infection.

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