Health Ministry warns of coronavirus cluster spread
Health Ministry warns of coronavirus cluster spread
Iran’s Health Ministry on Friday warned that three more provinces could reach the level of alert, urging their residents to help contain the novel coronavirus outbreak by observing health protocols.

TEHRAN (Iran News) – Iran’s Health Ministry on Friday warned that three more provinces could reach the level of alert, urging their residents to help contain the novel coronavirus outbreak by observing health protocols.

“It is predicted that in the coming days, there will be an increase in cases of COVID-19 infections in Lorestan, Sistan and Baluchestan and East Azarbaijan. Therefore, it is necessary for people in these provinces to cooperate more with the health system,” Health Ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour said in televised remarks.

Lorestan lies in western Iran, East Azerbaijan in the northwest, and Sistan and Baluchistan in the southeast, bordering Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Jahanpour said the southwestern province of Khuzestan remained “red” – the top level of Iran’s color-coded risk scale.

Khuzestan is the only province so far where authorities have reimposed stringent measures like shutting state bodies, banks, and non-essential businesses after a countrywide relaxation in April. The province borders Iraq.

Jahanpour had said on Thursday that North Khorasan Province in the northeast may also be close to “critical condition.”

“We are in a situation similar to previous days (in most provinces) save for Khuzestan, which is still in a critical condition, and it seems that North Khorasan may be critical as well,” Jahanpour said.

“If this trend continues, North Khorasan will require more serious measures, too,” he added.

North Khorasan Province lies in northeastern Iran on the border with Turkmenistan.

Authorities in Sistan and Baluchistan have already warned of a fresh spike in infections.

“We had not seen such an increase in coronavirus infections since [late February],” said Qassem Miri, the deputy head of the provincial capital Zahedan’s medical university.

The total number of people infected in the province had hit 909, of whom 821 had recovered and 59 had died, Miri said.

Miri said the jump was due to the failure of people to observe “social distancing and health protocols.”

Jahanpour on Friday confirmed the highest number of coronavirus infections in more than a month.

He said 2,102 new cases were registered across the country in the past 24 hours, bringing the overall total to 116,635.

That figure is the highest Iran has announced for a single day since April 6.

Jahanpour said the virus had claimed another 48 lives over the past 24 hours, raising the overall death toll to 6,902.

Of those hospitalized with COVID-19, 91,836 have recovered and been discharged.

The Islamic Republic has struggled to contain the virus that causes the COVID-19 disease since its first cases emerged in mid-February.

Since April 11, it has allowed a phased reopening of its economy and lifted restrictions on intercity travel.

Iran’s deputy health minister also announced on Thursday that athletes in 29 sports – including track and field, tennis, and weightlifting – could resume training.

Iraj Harirchi said a decision about Iran’s top-flight football league would be made over the weekend.

AFP contributed to this story.

  • source : Iran Daily, Irannews