Iran says worsening outbreak could strain health facilities

official leading Iran's response to worst coronavirus outbreak in Middle East on Sunday ackwledged that pandemic could overwhelm health facilities in country, which is under severe US sanctions.

Iran is battling one of worst outbreaks outside China, with nearly 13,000 confirmed cases and more than 600 fatalities. real number of infections could be even higher, as questions have been raised about government's transparency.

"If trend continues, re will t be eugh capacity," Ali Reza Zali, who is leading campaign against outbreak, was quoted as saying by state-run IRNA news ncy.

Iran is believed to have around 110,000 hospital beds, including 30,000 in capital, Tehran. Authorities have pledged to set up mobile clinics as needed.

Zali also ackwledged that “many” of those who have died from COVID-19 illness caused by virus were orwise healthy, a rare admission by local authorities that virus does t only prey on sick and elderly.

Health Ministry released figures showing that while 55 per cent of fatalities were in ir 60s, some 15 per cent were younger than 40.

For most people, new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.

Most people recover in a matter of weeks. But virus is highly contagious and can be spread by individuals with visible symptoms.

virus has infected more than 150,000 people worldwide and killed more than 5,700. More than 70,000 people worldwide have recovered after being infected.

In Iran, virus has even infected a number of senior officials, including senior vice president, Cabinet ministers, members of parliament, Revolutionary Guard members and Health Ministry officials.

country has struggled to respond in part because of crippling sanctions imposed by Trump administration after it withdrew from 2015 nuclear deal. Last week, Iran asked International Monetary Fund for a USD 5 billion loan, first time it has sought help from international lender since before 1979 Islamic Revolution.

US says it has offered humanitarian aid but that Iran has rejected it.

Countries across Middle East have imposed sweeping travel restrictions, cancelled public events and in some cases called on n-essential businesses to close for coming weeks. y have also pledged stimulus to try and contain ecomic fallout from pandemic.

central bank of United Arab Emirates, home to skyscraper-studded city of Dubai, on Sunday anunced a USD 27 billion stimulus pack. money will go toward supporting country's banks, and regulatory limits on loans will be eased.

Dubai Parks & Resorts anunced it would be closed through end of month. sprawling amusement park, built at a cost of USD 3 billion, has lost hundreds of millions of dollars since opening.

Abu Dhabi, capital of UAE, shut down its amusement parks and museums through end of month, including Louvre Abu Dhabi.

Tiny, oil-rich Kuwait meanwhile shut down malls, salons and barbershops to slow spread of virus. Authorities allowed coffee shops to remain open, but said more than five customers can wait in line at a time and must be a meter apart from each or.

Saudi Arabia separately anunced its own USD 13 billion stimulus plan.

In Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's trial on serious corruption charges, which was supposed to begin this week, was postponed for two months due to restrictions on public garings.

Israel imposed sweeping travel and quarantine measures more than a week ago but has seen its number of confirmed cases double in last two days, to around 200.

On Saturday, government said restaurants, malls, movies, gyms and daycare centers would close. Schools and universities have already been shut down until next month. 

(im credit: AP)