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BFF-24
HEALTH-VIRUS-IRAN-TOLL
Iran virus deaths reach 2,757, infections cross 40,000
TEHRAN, March 30, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Iran’s official coronavirus death toll
reached 2,757 on Monday and the number of infections crossed 40,000, as
President Hassan Rouhani’s political opponents slammed his response to the
outbreak.
The Islamic republic is one of the countries worst hit by the virus, which
originated in China.
Iran has been scrambling to contain COVID-19’s spread since it reported
its first cases on February 19.
After weeks of refraining from imposing lockdown or quarantine measures,
Tehran decided Wednesday to ban all intercity travel until at least April 8,
but some in the establishment have argued it is too little, too late.
Health ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour said at a daily news briefing
that 117 more people had died from the virus over the past 24 hours and 3,186
new cases had been confirmed.
According to Jahanpour, 13,911 of those hospitalised because of the virus
have recovered, while 3,511 are in a critical condition.
There is no official lockdown in Iran’s cities although the government has
repeatedly urged Iranians to stay home to contain the spread of the virus.
“Coronavirus could have been more quickly contained, if the health
ministry’s expert opinion regarding implementing social distancing and social
limitations was considered sooner,” Iran’s judiciary chief Ebrahim Raisi was
quoted by ISNA news agency as saying.
Raisi, an ultra-conservative who ran against Rouhani in the 2017
presidential election, added that “time is of the essence” and that people
started “cooperating” only after authorities appeared serious.
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, a veteran conservative and recent MP-elect who
also stood against Rouhani, said that the current administration is
mishandling the situation.
On Twitter, he said the government’s “inefficient management” pattern has
become evident during the outbreak through “ignoring reality, unjustified
optimism, sessions once per week and not utilising people’s potential”.
He accused Rouhani of “worsening crises, and then asking for help and
putting the blame on others”.
The wave of criticism came after Rouhani called on those “who might become
officials in a month or two” to assist the outbreak response, indirectly
pointing to Ghalibaf who is yet to enter parliament.
“This is not a time for gathering followers. This is not a time for
political war,” he said.
BSS/AFP/FI/ 1747 hrs