Iran says coronavirus death toll rises to 2,378

Iran on Friday anunced 144 new deaths from vel coronavirus, bringing official number of fatalities to 2,378 in one of world's worst-hit countries.

"In past 24 hours, we've h 2,926 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 infections across country," health ministry spokesman Kiaush Jahanpour said in a televised news conference.

"This brings overall confirmed cases to at least 32,332," he ded, ting that 11,133 of those hospitalised so far have recovered.

Jahanpour said nearly 2,900 of those infected are in a "severe" condition.

He said that rising number of confirmed cases was due to Iranians increasingly "self-declaring" symptoms and undergoing testing.

ministry has repeatedly called on citizens to visit a website and report potential symptoms.

data, toger with ir phone number and ID, is used to identify potential cases.

Iran has imposed strict new containment measures, after weeks of public appeals largely failed to deter hundreds of thousands taking to ros to visit family for Persian New Year holidays.

State television on Friday showed police checkpoints at Tehran's entrances and exits preventing residents leaving and n-residents entering.

It said motorists were identified by ir car plates and IDs and that several vehicles were impounded and drivers fined for violating measures.

"Since a small number of people do t heed warnings, we are w forced to talk to m" through forceful measures, First Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri was quoted as saying by state news ncy IRNA.

Islamic republic has alrey closed schools, universities and key Shiite pilgrim sites, cancelled main weekly Friday prayers and temporarily shut parliament.