Tehran (AFP)

Iran on Wednesday accused the United States, its sworn enemy, of spreading "fear" around the new coronavirus with a local death toll of 19, the heaviest after that of China, with new cases detected in the four corners of the country.

Health ministry spokesman Kianouche Jahanpour said the situation was "improving" but still called on the Iranians to limit their movements.

Mr. Jahanpour announced the death of four new people among 44 new cases of people infected with the new coronavirus detected in the last 24 hours.

Nearly 140 people, including the Deputy Minister of Health, have been infected with the disease across the country and most of the Islamic Republic's neighbors have implemented travel restrictions and quarantine measures.

Many schools, universities and cultural or sports centers have been closed and many events postponed to allow health teams to disinfect Iranian places and public transport.

- "Extreme fear" -

"The Americans themselves are in trouble with the coronavirus. 16,000 people have died from the flu (in the United States) but they are not talking about their own (dead)," said Rohani.

In mid-February, US authorities extended testing for the new coronavirus to people with flu-like symptoms. The American Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) then reported that 14,000 deaths from influenza had been recorded for the 2019-2020 season.

"The Iranian regime would have hidden vital details about the epidemic in this country," said Mike Pompeo, at a conference in Washington, amid heightened tensions between Iran and the United States.

The day before, a deputy from Qom had reported 50 deaths from the new coronavirus. Deputy Minister of Health Iraj Harirchi denied the remarks on Monday, promising to resign if the figure was confirmed, before announcing on Tuesday that he himself had been infected with the virus.

Government spokesman Ali Rabii, with whom Harirchi appeared coughing and sweating at a press conference on Monday, is awaiting the results of his test.

Since the announcement on February 19 of the first two deaths from the disease, in Qom, a holy Shiite city in the center of the country which attracts pilgrims and theologians from around the world, the government has promised to be more transparent after being accused of minimizing the results of the epidemic on its soil and mismanaging the spread of the virus.

Rohani stressed Iran's progress on the epidemic on Wednesday, citing "declining visits (to hospital) and progress in treatment".

- "Slightly worrying" -

According to the latest report from the Ministry of Health, more than half of the 31 provinces are affected: nine new cases were detected in Qom, four in Tehran, nine in Gilan, three in Khuzestan and two in Sistan-Baluchistan, Fars and at Kohgilouyeh-Bouyer-Ahmad.

A new case has been detected in each of the provinces of Markazi, Kermanshah, Ardebil, Mazandaran, Lorestan, Semnan and Hormozgan.

The spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, Mr. Janhanpour, nevertheless appeared optimistic about the situation in Qom, epicenter of the epidemic in the country.

"Every 24 hours, at least 10% of those in hospital or suspected cases are released and are in good health," he said.

But in Gilan, a province located on the Caspian Sea and very popular with holidaymakers, especially Tehran, "the situation is slightly worrying" since it is the second in terms of new cases detected, many of which are people who had traveled to other countries. 'other provinces.

Authorities have called on Iranians to limit their travel, but have not announced any quarantine measures, saying the method is obsolete and ineffective.

© 2020 AFP