Iran confirms 147 new deaths from coronavirus, bringing the country’s total death toll to 1,135

Health workers measure the body temperatures of passengers as a precaution against the coronavirus (COVID-19), is being measured in Qom, Iran on 17 March 2020 after the death toll in Iran from the novel coronavirus outbreak rose to 988. [Fatemah Bahrami - Anadolu Agency]

Iranian authorities confirms the death of 147 people within the last 24 hours, while 1,192 new cases arise, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 17,361,

Iranian state TV quoted Deputy Health Minister Alireza Reisi as saying.

“A total of 5,710 people have been discharged from hospitals after recovering from the virus”,

Reisi added.

“The first case of the coronavirus in Iran was confirmed on 19 February in Qom, a pilgrimage hub”.

Aside from China, Italy, and South Korea, Iran falls among the worst-affected countries in the world since the outbreak of the disease last December.

Trying  to contain the disease, Tehran has taken several measures, which includes the closure of all schools and higher education institutions, calling off sports events, and banning government officials from travelling outside the country.