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Three new coronavirus cases in Iran after two deaths
TEHRAN, Feb 21, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Iran has confirmed three new coronavirus
cases following the deaths of two elderly men, the health ministry told AFP
on Thursday, as Iraq banned travel to and from its neighbour.
The pair who died were elderly Iranian citizens and residents of the city
of Qom. They were the first confirmed deaths from the COVID-19 virus in the
Middle East.
Health ministry spokesman Kianush Jahanpour said two of the new cases were
also in Qom and the other was in Arak, south of the holy city.
“In total there were five cases… of which two have been fatal,” he said.
Qom is a centre for Islamic studies and tourists, attracting scholars from
Iran and beyond. However, a government official said the deceased men had not
left Iran.
Following the announcement of the deaths, Iraq on Thursday clamped down on
travel to and from the Islamic republic, with Iraq’s health ministry
announcing people in Iran were barred from entering the country “until
further notice”.
“Iranians are prohibited from entering (Iraq),” a senior official told AFP,
adding that border crossings with Iran had been closed, with only returning
Iraqis allowed to pass through.
Those Iraqis would be examined and, if necessary, placed in quarantine for
14 days, the health ministry said.
Iraqi nationals are also not allowed to travel to Iran, according to the
ministry.
The border closure followed a backlash against a Wednesday announcement of
visa waivers for Iranian nationals wishing to travel to Iraq.
Iraqis took to social media using the hashtag “close the border” and local
officials called for a ban on the entry of goods and people through various
border crossings with the Islamic republic.
Iraqi airports are already screening travellers for the virus and national
carrier Iraqi Airways has suspended flights to Iran.
Each year, millions of Iranian pilgrims visit holy Shiite sites in Iraq,
providing the Iraqi state with significant revenue.
Earlier Thursday, Iran’s government spokesman Ali Rabiei said Tehran would
set up a top-level body of government and defence officials to fight the
virus’ spread, according to state news agency IRNA.
“We, however, need global action (by authorities) and the cooperation of
all citizens,” Rabiei said on Twitter.
In Kuwait, national carrier Kuwait Airways announced Thursday it would
suspend all flights to Iran, while its ports will also be closed to
passengers travelling to and from the country.
Kuwaitis were advised not to travel to Qom, and were warned anyone arriving
from the city they would be quarantined.
– ‘Hid the truth’ –
The deaths in Iran were reported by local media on Wednesday, just hours
after Tehran said there were two cases in the country.
On social media, several people accused the government of keeping silent to
prevent panic ahead of Friday’s parliamentary elections.
“Just four hours separated the announcement that two compatriots were
infected… and their deaths,” journalist Javad Heydarian tweeted.
“This signifies that the virus had been around for some days but they hid
the truth.”
Public confidence in government pronouncements has plummeted since the
downing of a Ukrainian passenger plane on January 8 that killed 176 people.
The government initially denied responsibility, but later admitted the
plane had been fired on due to “human error” and blamed a jittery missile
operator.
The culture ministry has asked local media to only publish official
information from government officials and denounced what it claimed was a
proliferation of fake news on social media regarding the virus.
Since December, the novel coronavirus has killed more than 2,200 people in
China, the epicentre of the epidemic.
Elsewhere in the world, the virus has killed 11 people and spread across
some 25 countries.
BSS/AFP/GMR/0922 hrs