Iranians Advised to Keep Out Virus & Rumormongering

Date: 22 February 2020 - 22:58

News ID: ۷۶۴۴۶

TEHRAN (Dispatches) -- Iranian health authorities on Saturday reported a fifth death from the new virus that emerged in China, and said the fatality was from among 10 new confirmed cases of the virus in Iran.
So far, 28 cases have been confirmed in Iran, including the five who died. People are being treated for the virus in at least four different cities, including the capital, Tehran. Other cities are Qom, Arak and Rasht.
The virus loomed over a nationwide parliamentary election in Iran on Friday, but many voters went to the polls wearing face masks.
Health ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour made Saturday’s announcement for the latest figures on national TV, but did not specify when the fifth death occurred. Two people had died earlier Friday from COVID-19, the illness caused by virus. Authorities reported two deaths previously this week.
Jahanpour said that of the 10 newly detected cases, two were in the capital of Tehran and eight were in the city of Qom. That’s where the first two elderly patients died on Wednesday. He said the two patients in the capital had visited Qom or had links with the city.
As a preventive measure, Iran has closed schools in Qom and Arak. Also, the city of Tehran closed down all bistros and water fountains in the city’s subway stations until further notice.
The measures also include daily cleanings of metro train cars and city buses.
Speaking on Thursday, Health Minister Saeed Namaki said the coronavirus would definitely be contained in Iran through people’s vigilance and cooperation.
"The influenza virus was contained with God’s grace in the autumn, the influenza fatality rate was far higher than the coronavirus,” he said.
Namaki on Saturday advised people not to pay attention to rumors, stressing that they would be informed of the statistics. "We have enough kits and leading experts to diagnose coronavirus at medical science universities,” he said.
Javad Javidnia, the deputy for cyberspace affairs at the public prosecutor’s office, said the body is monitoring all news regarding the coronavirus and that those spreading rumors will be dealt with.