Iran Virus Deaths Reach 2,757, Infections Cross 40,000

On Monday, Iran's official death toll for coronavirus hit 2,757 and the number of infections exceeded 40,000, as political opponents of President Hassan Rouhani slammed his reaction to the epidemic.

The Islamic Republic is one of the worst-hit countries from the virus that emerged in China.

Iran has been struggling to control the spread of COVID-19 since the first cases were recorded on 19 February.

After weeks of refraining from imposing lockdown or quarantine measures, Tehran decided Wednesday to ban all intercity travel until at least April 8, but some in the establishment have argued it is too little, too late.

Health ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour said at a daily news briefing that 117 more people had died from the virus over the past 24 hours and 3,186 new cases had been confirmed.

13,911 of those treated with the infection have survived, while 3,511 are in a precarious state, according to Jahanpour.

In Iran's cities, there is no formal shutdown, although the government has frequently advised Iranians to remain home to prevent the virus outbreak.

"Coronavirus could have been more quickly contained, if the health ministry's expert opinion regarding implementing social distancing and social limitations was considered sooner," Iran's judiciary chief Ebrahim Raisi was quoted by ISNA news agency as saying.

Raisi, an ultra-conservative who ran against Rouhani in the 2017 presidential election, added that "time is of the essence" and that people started "cooperating" only after authorities appeared serious.

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, a veteran conservative and recent MP-elect who also stood against Rouhani, said that the current administration is mishandling the situation.

On Twitter, he said the government's "inefficient management" pattern has become evident during the outbreak through "ignoring reality, unjustified optimism, sessions once per week and not utilizing people's potential".

He accused Rouhani of "aggravating problems and instead of demanding aid and accusing others."

The surge of anger came after Rouhani called for all "who might become officials in a month or two" to assist in the answer to the epidemic, referring implicitly to Ghalibaf, who has yet to join parliament.

"This is not a time for gathering followers. This is not a time for political war," he said.

Source: AFP