Iran says 'tens of thousands' may get tested for coronavirus

An Iranian Health Ministry spokesman says Islamic Republic is preparing for possibility of “tens of thousands” coming to test for new coronavirus, underscoring concern over outbreak re.

Kiaush Jahanpour me comment Saturday at a news conference where he said illness virus causes has killed 43 people amid 593 confirmed cases in Islamic Republic.

RE | China Sends Experts To Iran To Contain Spre Of Coronavirus

Jahanpour denied reports by BBC's Farsi service putting death toll over four times as high, saying foreign media outlets h “political” biases and access to Iran's laboratories.

However, his ackwledgment of number of people potentially wanting testing shows how concerned Iran is over virus, especially after days of officials downplaying it.

Iran has highest death toll in world outside of China, epicenter of virus. 

RE | Iran Dismisses International Media Reports Of Over 210 Coronavirus Deaths In Country

RE | Bahrain Threatens Untested From Iran With Arrest Amid Coronavirus Outbreak