Coronavirus: Iran state TV warns ‘millions’ may die unless health advice heeded
- Iran on Tuesday confirmed another 135 deaths from the coronavirus, bringing the overall toll to 988 in one of the world’s worst-hit countries
- Iran has temporarily freed about 85,000 prisoners, including political prisoners, a spokesman for its judiciary said on Tuesday
Iran’s state television has issued its most drastic warning so far about the new coronavirus, saying the outbreak could kill “millions” in the Islamic Republic if the public keeps travelling and ignoring health guidance.
Iran on Tuesday confirmed another 135 deaths from the coronavirus, bringing the overall toll to 988 in one of the world’s worst-hit countries. There are also 16,169 infections.
Officials have now implemented new checks for people trying to leave major cities ahead of Nowruz, the Persian New Year, on Friday, but have hesitated to quarantine the areas.
Iran has temporarily freed about 85,000 prisoners, including political prisoners, a spokesman for its judiciary said on Tuesday, in response to the coronavirus epidemic.
“Some 50 per cent of those released are security-related prisoners … Also in the jails we have taken precautionary measures to confront the outbreak,” said Gholamhossein Esmaili.
On March 10, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran said he had asked Tehran to free all political prisoners temporarily from its overcrowded and disease-ridden jails to help stem the spread of coronavirus.
Esmaili did not elaborate on when those released would have to return to jail.
Javaid Rehman, the UN special rapporteur on human rights in Iran, said earlier in March that Iranian prisoners have been infected with coronavirus.
Iran to check everyone for Covid-19 as death toll surges
Although Iran has one of the Middle East’s best medical services, its hospitals appear to be overwhelmed and authorities have asked for 172 million masks from abroad. It also has asked the International Monetary Fund for US$5 billion, the first such loan for Iran since 1962.
But many Iranians have dismissed fears about the virus and advice to avoid social contact. Restaurants and cafes have remained open, though business has diminished.
A member of the Assembly of Experts, which has the power to appoint or dismiss Iran’s supreme leader, died from the Covid-19 illness caused by the virus, the semi-official Fars and Tasnim news agencies reported on Monday.
Coronavirus: how big is the threat to Iran?
Ayatollah Hashem Bathaei, 78, is the latest of several Iranian officials to have died. Cabinet ministers, members of parliament, Revolutionary Guard members and Health Ministry officials have caught the virus.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who is 80 years old and has been in power since 1989, wore disposable gloves at a recent public event.
Reuters and Associated Press
