Official coronavirus death toll reaches 16,000; Rouhani government spokesman tests positive for coronavirus
Hassan Rouhani's government spokesman was hospitalized after testing positive for the coronavirus. At the same time, according to official statistics, the number of victims of the virus in Iran has reached 16,000.
According to the Iranian Broadcasting Corporation, Ali Rabiei has been resting at home since last week and "has been hospitalized at the urging of doctors."
The report does not specify when the Rouhani government spokesman contracted the coronavirus.
Previously, some members of the government, including Masoumeh Ebtekar, the Vice President for Women's Affairs, and Ali Asghar Munesan, the Minister of Cultural Heritage and Tourism, had contracted the coronavirus.
In recent days, despite the increase in coronavirus statistics, Hassan Rouhani's stance on holding Muharram mourning ceremonies even in areas that are red in terms of the spread of coronavirus has faced numerous criticisms and questions.
Emphasizing that we do not have a duality between mourning and health, the Iranian President has called for holding Muharram ceremonies "in compliance with health protocols."
Ahmad Tavakoli, a member of the Expediency Discernment Council, called for the promotion of home mourning sessions in a tweet, noting that the current situation may endanger the "lives of thousands of mourners."
Source: Radio Farda
