Iran: imbroglio around the number of people affected by the coronavirus
Text by: RFI Follow
Ministry of Health spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour denied in a tweet the BBC figure of 210 dead in Persian. However, he announced earlier that the number of people infected should increase sharply in the coming days. But authorities are stepping up measures to deal with the spread of the virus.
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Read moreFrom our correspondent in Tehran, Siavosh Ghazi
In his tweet, Kianoush Jahanpour accused the British channel, based in London of participating in a race for lies and of having no source. He added that the Iranian government was completely transparent in the release of the figures.
Several deputies, who participated in the election campaign for the legislative elections of February 21, tested positive. A new elected provincial, former war wounded, even died. Sources say he died of the flu but other sources say he was infected with the coronavirus .
10 to 15,000 people infected?
Parliament could also decide to hold more meetings until further notice. According to a member of the Tehran City Council, the number of people infected could be much higher than the official figures and reach 10 or 15,000 people.
In any case, the authorities have decided to maintain the closure of universities in the affected provinces and schools throughout the country at least until Monday. According to some sources, the closure of schools could continue until April 1, which corresponds to the end of the Iranian New Year holidays.
The television broadcasts from this Saturday courses for schoolchildren and high school students. Finally, the cinema and theater halls, but also the sports halls and the swimming pools will remain closed. The government also asked the Iranians to avoid non-emergency displacement in cities and across the country.
Also to listen: Coronavirus: Iran has many deaths
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