Iran reports 22 deaths from coronavirus, 141 infected

Private security guards wear protective facemasks in Karachi on Feb 26, 2020. PHOTO: AFP

DUBAI (REUTERS/XINHUA) - Twenty-two people have died so far from the new coronavirus in Iran, the official Iranian news agency IRNA reported in a chart it published on Thursday (Feb 27).

The number of people diagnosed with the disease is 141, the chart showed. It did not specify whether those who have died were included in the tally of those infected.

Iranian officials on Wednesday reported a total of 139 cases of coronavirus and 19 deaths.

Among those infected was lawmaker Mahmoud Sadeghi, the Tabnak news website reported on Wednesday.

"I give this message (of being affected by the virus) while I am less hopeful about staying alive," Mr Sadeghi was quoted as saying.

On Tuesday, Mr Alireza Vahabzadeh, adviser for the Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education, said the country's deputy Health Minister Iraj Harirchi was tested positive for Covid-19.

Iranian media earlier reported that Mr Mohammad Reza Qadir, president of Qom Medical Sciences University, had also tested positive for the coronavirus.

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