Coronavirus sparks crisis in Iran: Death toll reaches 54 as nearly 1,000 infected

As the epicentre of the coronavirus in the middle east, Iran is rapidly descending into crisis as a result of the outbreak, with officials succumbing to the virus and both medical equipment and reliable information at a premium in the country.

As of Sunday, the number of deaths officially reported was 54, while the total number of cases was 978. According to ministry spokesman Kianush Jahanpur, 175 of those who have been infected have recovered and been discharged from hospitals. Most of the new reported cases are in Tehran.

However, both the death and infected tolls released by the government have been challenged this week, as conflicting reports say the true extent of the coronavirus is much higher.

A BBC Persia report, citing hospital sources, claims that the death toll is at least 210, a number rejected by the Iranian health ministry. Jahanpur refuted the report in a tweet. However, others have also stepped forward to challenge official numbers,

An MP from Rasht in northern Iran, Gholam Ali Jafazadeh Imanabadi, has urged the government to reveal the real figures, saying “you cannot hide graveyards”. Unverified footage from the region shows what are allegedly mass graves being prepared in the city of Langaroud in northern Iran. 

The death rate in Iran, based on official figures, is about 5.54 per cent—higher than the two-three per cent being reported globally. Earlier official figures yielded a much higher death rate, which was the highest in the world. This suggests that the actual number of those infected could be higher, leading to more deaths being reported. Iran has the most reported deaths from the coronavirus outside of China, at present. A study by Canadian epidemiologists published in a non-peer reviewed journal estimated that, as of February 24, 18,300 people have been infected by the coronavirus in Iran.

Jahanpur has urged Iranians to stay at home. Schools have been closed until Tuesday while concerts and sports events have both been banned for a week. Iranian authorities say the ongoing US sanctions against the country have affected their ability to buy testing kits or obtain medical equipment.

Medical supplies were recently sent to the country from China, according to a report published in Xinhua. Just weeks prior, three million masks had been donated to China from Iran as a gesture of friendship, IRNA had reported. Iran has since banned the export of face masks for three months.

Panic has set in in parts of the country; in Bandar Abbas, a mob set fire to a clinic where they believed coronavirus patients from Qom—the initial epicentre of the virus in Iran—were being treated.

Adding to the panic is the increasing number of government officials coming down with the coronavirus; so far, a vice-president, a health minister and two MPs have tested positive for the coronavirus.

Brash attempts to counter the rising panic have added to the danger. A ‘lick the shrine’ challenge has emerged on social media, where people film themselves kissing and licking holy Shia shrines ni the country in the belief that they would be protected from the virus in such places.  

 The person seen in one of the viral videos has since been arrested, according to a report by Manoto News.  

 According to semi-official news agency ISNA, barbers and hair dresses in the city of Tabriz have closed down in a bid to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Iran's also announced that all flights had been suspended to the city of Rasht, the capital of nothern Gilan province, offering no reason for the measure. After Qom and Tehran, Gilan has a high number of infections.

Several countries have announced travel restrictions or quarantine requirements on travellers from Iran, after several cases were reported outside of the country as a result of travel from Iran.