A Tehran Municipality worker cleans a bus to avoid the spread of the COVID-19 illness on February 26, 2020. AFP / ATTA KENARE
Tehran: The Iranian Ministry of Health announced Thursday a number of measures to confront the novel coronavirus.
Among these measures are the prevention of gatherings and the cancelation of unnecessary trips, exhibitions, Friday prayers, congregational prayer and tourist camps, cinemas, ceremonies, funerals and Itikaf, the ministry said.
Restricting visits to religious places, reducing daily meetings and limiting movement, are also among the measures, the indicating that these procedures will continue until further notice, according to the ministry.
Head of Public Relations and Information Center of Ministry Kianush Jahanpur said that the number of laboratories specialized in diagnosing coronavirus in the country has increased from two laboratories to seven, and will reach 15 until the end of the week, and to 22 within the next week.
The Iranian health authorities announced on Wednesday that the number of deaths from the virus rose to 19, while the number of infected people rose to 139.
The Iranian authorities also decided to close schools, universities and educational centers in the cities of Qom and Arak after infections with the coronavirus were reported to prevent its spread. The organizers of the Tehran International Book Fair announced the postponement of the 33rd session due to the virus.
