In Iran, the Ministry of Health announced the death of 3 more people; the World Health Organization called the situation in Iran "worrying"

In Iran, the number of deaths from the coronavirus continues to rise.

The Islamic Republic's Ministry of Health announced today that the death toll from the epidemic has reached 8. Meanwhile, several neighboring countries have also closed their borders with Iran.

The Islamic Republic's Ministry of Health announced today the deaths of three more people, including in Tonekabon and Arak, due to the coronavirus. According to Kianoush Jahanpour, spokesman for the Ministry of Health, as of today, Sunday, March 25, eight people have died in Iran due to the coronavirus, known as COVID-19. Five deaths had previously been confirmed in the cities of Qom and Arak.

The Health Ministry official also announced the diagnosis of 15 more people with the coronavirus in Iran. Thus, 43 people have been confirmed to be infected with the coronavirus in Iran so far. He said that the new cases include 7 in Qom, 4 in Tehran, 2 in Gilan, 1 in Markazi Province, and 1 in Tonekabon. The outbreak and deaths of the coronavirus in Iran began in Qom.

While Saeed Namaki, the Minister of Health of the Islamic Republic, announced today the imminent distribution of free masks, disinfectants, and educational brochures in the form of a prepared package to most families living in Qom, he did not mention the provision and distribution of masks and disinfectants in other large and small cities in Iran, where deaths and cases of coronavirus have been recorded.

According to reports, the shortage of protective masks in the Tehran metropolis has fueled the boom in the black market for this product, causing some pharmacies to resort to abuse and profiteering by offering masks at several times the price.

Yesterday, the head of the World Health Organization called the confirmation of the spread and deaths of the coronavirus in Iran "worrying."

Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Türkiye, and Iraq closed their borders with Iran following the spread of the coronavirus in Iran.

There are also reports of security forces clashing with people protesting the authorities' handling of the coronavirus outbreak. For example, a video posted online shows security forces clashing with protesters in front of Hashtpar State Hospital in Talesh.

It seems that the Islamic Republic has adopted its usual approach to the crisis this time as well. Regime officials, who until a few days ago were even denying concerns about the spread of the coronavirus in Iran, were forced to admit it when news broke of the deaths of two people infected with the virus in Qom.

The United States has repeatedly condemned mismanagement, institutionalized financial corruption, and the plundering of Iranian assets by the regime's affiliates, calling them among the main causes of Iran's problems and the poor welfare of its people. Not long ago, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeted about the Islamic Republic's officials that they were involved in corruption instead of helping the people.

Source: Voice of America