At least 50 die of coronavirus in Iran – reports

At least 50 people have died in the Iranian city of Qom, Iran’s semiofficial ILNA news agency reported on Monday.

Around 250 people inside a seminary in Qom were believed to have been quarantined on Monday, while the director of one of the city’s main hospitals was reported to have contracted the virus too.

An official from Qom, Ahmad Amiriabadi Farahani, was quoted in the ILNA report as saying that although Iran officially reported its first cases of the virus and the deaths that it had caused on February 19, some of the 50 deaths in Qom date back to February 13.

This is a significant escalation in Iran as it was believed until earlier today that there were only 64 cases of the infection in the country and 12 resultant deaths.

Iran has now reported the highest number of coronavirus cases in the Middle East. Schools across the country have been closed for a second day.

On Saturday, the UAE reported that an Iranian couple visiting the country were its latest cases, taking the total number of those infected to 13.

Read: Coronavirus update: Kuwait, Bahrain confirm first cases

This morning, Bahrain’s Ministry of Health reported the first case of the coronavirus infection in the kingdom after a citizen, who arrived from Iran, showed symptoms of the disease.

Neighbouring countries in the region are now taking measures to limit the spread of the disease from Iran.

Read more: UAE confirms new coronavirus cases, Saudi suspends travel to Iran

On Saturday, Saudi Arabia suspended its citizens and expatriate residents from travelling to Iran on coronavirus fears. Expat travellers who have been in Iran will only be allowed to enter the kingdom after a 14-day incubation period, officials announced.

Kuwait has suspended travel to and from Iran .

Turkey and Pakistan have meanwhile closed their land borders with Iran too.