Iran's deputy health minister, Iraj Harirchi, has tested positive to coronavirus, the BBC has reported. Iran, like others, is battling the scourge of the...
The disease which was detected in Wuhan, Hubei Province in China has spread around the country and to over 30 countries.The deputy health minister was spearheading the country’s efforts to contain the coronavirus before he contracted the disease.
Mr Harirchi, in a video released on Tuesday, admitted that he too had Covid-19 and that he was self-isolating and starting the medication. “I had a fever as of last night and my preliminary test was positive around midnight. I’ve isolated myself in a place since… and now I am starting medication.Mr Harirchi was seen mopping his brow repeatedly at a news conference on Monday when he denied the authorities were lying about the scale of the Covid-19 outbreak.During the briefing, the minister denied a claim by a member of parliament that the authorities were engaged in a cover-up.
Although WHO does not consider the outbreak to be a pandemic yet, countries have been advised to strengthen their surveillance, preparedness and health security. “We are not witnessing the uncontained global spread of the virus. Does this virus have pandemic potential? absolutely it has, are we there yet? From our assessment, not yet,” said Mr Ghebreyesus.However, unlike in Italy, Iranian officials are refusing to impose quarantines in areas affected by the outbreak.Statistics from the outbreak revealed that more people have died in Iran from the virus than anywhere else outside China.
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