clear

Creating new perspectives since 2009

Iran: Coronavirus death toll climbs to 1,135

March 18, 2020 at 4:28 pm

Health workers measure the body temperatures of passengers as a precaution against the coronavirus (COVID-19), is being measured in Qom, Iran on 17 March 2020 after the death toll in Iran from the novel coronavirus outbreak rose to 988. [Fatemah Bahrami – Anadolu Agency]

Iran’s death toll from coronavirus shot reached 1,135 today, local media reported.

Authorities said 147 people died over the last 24 hours, while 1,192 new cases emerged, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 17,361, Iranian state TV quoted Deputy Health Minister Alireza Reisi as saying.

A total of 5,710 people have been discharged from hospitals after recovering from the virus, Reisi added.

The first case of the coronavirus in Iran was confirmed on 19 February in Qom, a pilgrimage hub.

Besides China, Italy, and South Korea, Iran is among the worst-affected countries since the outbreak of the disease last December.

Seeking to contain the virus, Tehran has taken several measures, including the closure of all schools and higher education institutions, calling off sports events, and banning government officials from leaving the country.

Iran: 103-year-old beats coronavirus 

Worldwide, out of over 200,000 confirmed cases, the death toll now exceeds 8,000, while more than 82,500 patients have recovered, according to Worldometer, a website that compiles new case numbers.

The number of active cases is more than 109,000 – 94 per cent mild and six per cent in critical condition, according to the website.

The World Health Organisation has declared Europe the new epicenter of the virus, after first emerging in Wuhan, China last December.