Iran president warns of tough new measures as virus toll tops 2,000

Iran's president warned that his government was poised to introduce tough new measures against coronavirus Wednesday as death toll from one of world's deliest outbreaks topped 2,000. President Hassan Rouhani said that new measures, which could be opted as soon as Wednesday evening, included Iran's first restrictions on movement to try to stem spre of virus and were likely to be "difficult" for public.

So far, Iran has resisted imposing any lockdown, choosing inste to rely on verbal appeals for people to stay home.

But those have been widely igred. Hundreds of thousands of Iranians took to ros as usual last weekend to spend two-week Persian New Year holiday with family despite fears of disease spreing from big cities to countryside.

"re has been a long debate within National Committee for Fighting Coronavirus about how to strengn measures we have taken," Rouhani said in televised comments to cabinet.

"We need to step up those measures," he said, ding that health ministry h "presented committee with a plan" that could be "approved and published" during day.

"It may create problems for people's travel plans and require that people return home early," president said.

"It could stop next wave of journeys. People have to realise that se are difficult decisions that are being taken to protect people's lives.

"But we have choice, because lives of Iranians are important to us." Rouhani said new measures would be opted for 15 days and would be "implemented thoroughly until Saturday, April 4," day when children rmally return to school after holiday.

Iran on Wednesday anunced 143 new deaths from vel coronavirus, raising official death toll to 2,077 in one of world's worst-hit countries.

Health ministry spokesman Kiaush Jahanpour said "our colleagues have registered 2,206 new cases of COVID-19 infection" in past 24 hours, bringing total infections to 27,017. 

(Picture Credit: AP)