Iran Minister coughs, wipes sweat amid Coronavirus briefing, hours prior to his diagnosis

Iran's deputy health minister Iraj Harirchi was seen evidently discomforted and perspiring, hours before he was diagsed for Coronavirus. w in quarantine, Iranian Minister was diagsed for dely Coronavirus on Tuesday, thus taking number of cases to 95 in Middle Eastern country and death toll to 15, as per IRNA. 

virus that has w affected over 80,000 people worldwide is w spreing in parts of Europe and Middle East. dressing a joint press brief with Iran government's spokesperson Rabiei and among journalists on Tuesday, an uneasy Iraj Harirchi could be seen mopping sweat off his forehe and wiping his se. 

In a room full of reporters and government officials, Iranian Minister, prior to being officially diagsed, even gave a television interview to an Iranian news channel. In interview, shared vividly on social media, Iraj Harirchi was seen coughing continuously and wiping his se. However, Iranian Minister was t wearing a protective mask in eir of se videos, thus putting rest of those in press conference and TV news journalist in danger of highly infectious virus.

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Following his diagse, in a video brocast, Iranian Minister anunced that he was infected with virus. "I too have been infected with coronavirus," Harirchi said. "I've isolated myself in a place since. A few minutes ago, I was told that my final test was final, and w I am starting medication," he said as per translations by international media.  

Coronavirus in Iran 

After being accused of cover-up in Coronavirus outbreak, Iranian government led by Hassan Rouhani has w pledged to be transparent with its figures including death toll. Iran's government's spokesperson, Ali Rabiei, me statement standing next Iranian deputy health minister. "We pledge to be transparent about reporting of figures," said Rabiei.

pledge was me after an Iranian lawmaker accused government of hiding full extent of coronavirus outbreak in Qom, which has w reported 50 deaths from dely virus. According to semi-official news ncy ISNA, Ahm Amiriabi Farahani, an official from holy city of Qom, accused Iran’s Health Minister of “lying” about outbreak. 

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