At least 210 people have died of coronavirus in Iran, the BBC reported, citing sources in the country’s health system, far more than the figure maintained by the government in Tehran.
According to the network’s sources, most of the deaths have come from Tehran and the city of Qom, where the virus was first found in the country.
Iran’s Health Ministry on Saturday updated its death toll for the virus to 43, saying that 593 have been infected with the virus.
Health Ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour said that the government
was being fully transparent and accused the BBC of lying about the
figures.
“Unfortunately nine people died of the virus in the last 24 hours, increasing the death toll to 43,” he told state TV, according to Reuters.
Even that figure would mean Iran has suffered from the most coronavirus-related deaths outside mainland China, where the outbreak began.
The BBC’s report comes after a member of parliament for Qom accused the Iranian government of covering up the reality of the virus in Iran.
The U.S. has also been wary of the accuracy of the reports on the virus coming from the country and pledged on Friday to help support Iran amid the outbreak.
https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/public-global-health/485280-iran-death-toll-from-coronavirus-over-200-report
According to the network’s sources, most of the deaths have come from Tehran and the city of Qom, where the virus was first found in the country.
Iran’s Health Ministry on Saturday updated its death toll for the virus to 43, saying that 593 have been infected with the virus.
“Unfortunately nine people died of the virus in the last 24 hours, increasing the death toll to 43,” he told state TV, according to Reuters.
Even that figure would mean Iran has suffered from the most coronavirus-related deaths outside mainland China, where the outbreak began.
The BBC’s report comes after a member of parliament for Qom accused the Iranian government of covering up the reality of the virus in Iran.
The U.S. has also been wary of the accuracy of the reports on the virus coming from the country and pledged on Friday to help support Iran amid the outbreak.
“The United States stands with the people of Iran
during the public health crisis caused by the outbreak of the novel
Coronavirus (COVID-19). The U.S. Government is prepared to assist the
Iranian people in their response efforts,” Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Friday.
“This offer of support to the Iranian people, which
has been formally conveyed to Iran through the Government of
Switzerland, underscores our ongoing commitment to address health crises
and prevent the spread of infectious diseases. Supporting the Iranian
people is and will remain among our top priorities,” he added.
Pompeo called on Iran to “cooperate fully and
transparently with international aid and health organizations” as the
virus continues to spread worldwide.
On Friday, the World Health Organization raised its
coronavirus risk assessment to “very high” but said the outbreak has
yet to become a global pandemic.
There are more than 85,000 reported cases of the virus worldwide and
almost 3,000 deaths — the vast majority from mainland China, where the
outbreak originated.https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/public-global-health/485280-iran-death-toll-from-coronavirus-over-200-report
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