Iran’s vice-president has been diagnosed with coronavirus, state media have reported, as the country struggles to stop the spread of the disease.
Masoumeh Ebtekar is among 254 people infected with the virus in the Middle Eastern nation, where 26 people have been killed.
The vice-president for women and family affairs is better known internationally as the English-language spokeswoman for the hostage-takers who seized the US embassy in Tehran in 1979, sparking a 444-day diplomatic crisis.
Iran’s deputy health minister tested positive for the virus earlier this week, hours after appearing visibly unwell at a press conference during which he denied the government was suppressing the scale of the outbreak.
Coronavirus cases in Iran spiked by 106 over the last 24 hours, the country’s health ministry announced on Thursday. The country’s death toll from the outbreak is higher than any country except China, where the epidemic began.
White House reporter talks about Trump banning MS Now, Politico, and CNN
It’s Not All Doom and Gloom: AI Added 1 Million US Jobs, 5 for Every 1 Cut
Politicians Forgot Backup Power When They Pushed Clean Power in 13 States: Now Electric Bills Are Skyrocketing
Why Trump zeroed in on Greenland, the world’s largest island, mostly covered in ice — in 3 charts
Trump says new arch will also deploy drones, position snipers and store ammo
You Could See Drones Buzzing All Over the Country: Trump Admin Expands Drone Operations
‘I’m Not Kidding’: FBI Agent Wanted to Charge Elon Musk for Asking Federal Workers What They Did That Week
Ukraine launches over 1,000 drones at Russia on final day of Duma elections
Police officer, woman shot near Notre Dame after football tailgates
El-Sayed’s Senate bid raises new concerns over a powerful privilege that comes with the job
Trump says Triumphal Arch will be converted into ‘top-grade’ military complex
ICE-led Florida operation nets 500 — including illegal aliens accused of murder, child abuse, cartel ties
Several Were Illegal Aliens: DOJ Announces 16 Culprits Caught Illegally Voting in Federal Elections
WATCH: Exclusive look at blue-collar workforce fueling America’s AI boom
DSA Chapter Leader Resigns, Warns ‘Frightening’ and ‘Extreme’ Radicals Are Running the Show
The outbreak has prompted Iranian authorities to cancel Friday prayers in Tehran. Health ministry spokesman Kianush Jahanpur said there were also plans to impose restrictions at some holy Muslim sites but the plan “needs the approval of the president before being carried out”.
Mr Jahanpur, speaking to state TV, urged Iranians to avoid “unnecessary trips inside the country”.
State news agency IRNA said Chinese citizens have been banned from entering the country. Similar restrictions have been implemented by dozens of other nations including the US, Russia, South Korea and Australia in a bid to stem the spread of coronavirus.
Michael Ryan, executive director of the World Health Organisation’s emergencies programme, said Iran’s 10 per cent mortality rate – five times higher than China – was probably due to milder cases of the disease not being picked up.
Story cited here.
