Iran deputy health minister tests positive for coronavirus

Amid a major outbreak in the Islamic republic, the ministry official confirmed the news on Tuesday

TEHRAN: Iran's deputy health minister has been infected with the new coronavirus, a ministry official said on Tuesday, amid a major outbreak in the Islamic republic.

"The coronavirus test for Mr Harirchi, the deputy health minister who was on the front lines combating the coronavirus, was positive," Alireza Vahabzadeh, a media adviser to the health minister, said in a tweet.

Iraj Harirchi coughed occasionally and appeared during a press conference on Monday with government spokesperson Ali Rabiei.

Earlier in the day, Iran confirmed deaths of two more Iranians infected with a coronavirus, media website Eghtesaonline said on Tuesday, taking to 14 the toll in the Islamic Republic, which has the highest tally of deaths outside China, where the virus emerged late last year.

Iran confirms two more coronavirus deaths

“Tests showed they had the new coronavirus,” the head of the Medical Science University of Saveh said, according to the website.

On Monday, the health ministry said 61 people had been infected in Iran.

Authorities have ordered the nationwide cancellation of concerts and closures of schools, universities, and sports complexes as a precaution.

Kuwait and Bahrain on Monday recorded their first new coronavirus cases, all involving people who had visited Iran.