The situation is deteriorating in Iran where the Ministry of Health announced, Sunday, March 22, 129 additional deaths caused by the Covid-19 disease, bringing to 1,685 the official toll of the epidemic due to the coronavirus.
According to the spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, more than 1,028 new cases of contamination have been recorded in the past 24 hours. A total of 21,638 people tested positive in Iran.
"The province of Tehran has reported 249 cases of contamination," said the official, adding that "that of Yazd [Center], where 84 [new] patients were counted, could become a new focus of the disease within days. come".
To limit the spread of the virus, the authorities have been asking the population for several weeks to refrain from any trip during the fifteen days of the holiday of Norouz [the Persian New Year, celebrated Friday in a moody atmosphere], which traditionally puts the country whole on the roads. Iranians are invited to stay "as much as possible" at home.
In Iran "about 68% of deaths from Covid-19 disease are over the age of 60," said Jahanpour, noting that "travel and family visits to Norouz are generally risk factors for this group of age ".
Khamenei pushes back US aid offer
In a televised speech to the nation, Supreme Guide Ali Khamenei on Sunday recommended "everyone to follow the instructions" of the authorities to fight the epidemic "so that Almighty God put an end to this calamity for the Iranian people , for all Muslim nations and for all humanity ".
He also called the United States' offer of assistance to Iran to fight the epidemic strange, and described the leaders as "charlatans and liars".
Washington has offered humanitarian assistance to its long-standing enemy, the most affected country in the Middle East.
The US government has repeatedly repeated its provision to medically assist Iran on #Coronavirus. Very surprising words, because according to your own managers, you yourself are suffering from a shortage. If you have something, use it to treat your own sick!
- Ayatollah Khamenei (@Khamenei_Fra) March 22, 2020"Several times, the Americans have offered help to fight the epidemic. It is strange, because you are facing shortages in the United States. Besides, you are accused of having created this virus", said the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution.
"I don't know if that's true. But when such an accusation exists, can a wise man trust you and accept your offer of help?" He added.
Iran is one of the three countries most affected by the new coronavirus, along with Italy and China. Unlike these two countries, he refused to impose such drastic confinement or quarantine measures.
With AFP and Reuters
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