Iran lawmaker from Qom accuses govt of coronavirus cover-up: Report

Iranian lawmaker accused the government of hiding the full extent of the coronavirus outbreak in Qom, which has now reported 50 deaths from the deadly virus. According to semi-official news agency ISNA, Ahmad Amiriabadi Farahani, an official from the holy city of Qom, accused Iran’s Health Minister of “lying” about the outbreak.

While Iran had, a few hours earlier, reported 12 deaths from coronavirus, the latest report suggests that the death toll in Qom only has reached 50. Farahani reportedly claimed that more than 250 people are quarantined in Qom and the 50 deaths due to coronavirus date as far back as February 13.

New cases in the Gulf

The threat of the deadly virus in the Gulf region has rapidly increased with Bahrain and Kuwait confirming first cases of coronavirus. According to Bahrain’s state news agency, the one confirmed case had arrived from Iran, the country which has shown a sudden spike in the number of deaths.

Kuwait’s state news agency, quoting the Ministry of Health, reported that three persons, including a Saudi national, have been tested positive for coronavirus. One of the three returnees was identified as a Kuwaiti male, 53, while the third patient was a 21-year-old with gender and nationality not yet revealed.

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According to the latest report, 150 new deaths in China due to coronavirus infections have been confirmed, taking the total death toll because of the deadly virus to nearly 2,600. While most of the cases are from Hubei province of China and the city of Wuhan, the epicentre of the outbreak, other countries, including Italy, Japan and the Philippines, have also now reported deaths related to COVID-19.

Read: Coronavirus: Afghanistan Announces First Positive Virus Case

While Chinese President Xi Jinping has called the coronavirus outbreak as the 'largest public health emergency' since its Communist China’s founding in 1949, Beijing has also provided slight relaxation in Wuhan, the epicentre of the deadly outbreak. Authorities announced on February 24 to ease restrictions in the quarantined city and permit some people to leave Wuhan under certain conditions.

Read: China Postpones Parliament Session As Country Battles Coronavirus: Report

Read: Bahrain, Kuwait Confirm First Coronavirus COVID-19 Cases: Reports

(With inputs from agencies)