Coronavirus: Iran reports 54 more casualties, taking death toll to 291

A rumour in Iran that alcohol can treat coronavirus has so far led to 37 deaths and sent 270 people to the hospital after being poisoned by bootleg alcohol

Iran is the hardest-hit country in the Mideast by the new coronavirus. Across the region, there are more than 8,600 confirmed cases of the virus

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Firefighters wearing protective clothing spray disinfectant on Tabia’t bridge pedestrian overpass in Tehran, Iran. Photo: Bloomberg

Published: 8:32pm, 10 Mar 2020Updated: 11:04pm, 10 Mar 2020

Iran on Tuesday confirmed the new coronavirus has killed 54 more people, raising the death toll to 291 amid 8,042 cases in the Islamic Republic.

Health Ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour made the announcement in a televised news conference. It represented an 18 per cent increase in deaths from the day before and 12 per cent more confirmed cases.

Iran is the hardest-hit country in the Mideast by the new coronavirus and the Covid-19 illness it causes. Across the region, there are more than 8,600 confirmed cases of the virus.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.

The UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran asked Tehran to free all prisoners temporarily, saying it is “unfortunate and disturbing” to continue holding political prisoners amid the outbreak.

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