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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Coronavirus: Iran reports two suspected fatal cases at Qom hospital | Coronavirus: Iran reports two suspected fatal cases at Qom hospital |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Iran's health ministry says two people have died after preliminary tests came back as positive for the new coronavirus disease, Covid-19. | Iran's health ministry says two people have died after preliminary tests came back as positive for the new coronavirus disease, Covid-19. |
| Spokesman Kianush Jahanpour tweeted that they died due to their "old age and deficient immune systems" while being treated in hospital in Qom. | Spokesman Kianush Jahanpour tweeted that they died due to their "old age and deficient immune systems" while being treated in hospital in Qom. |
| Deputy Health Minister Qasem Janbabaei told the Young Journalists' Club (YJC) that they were both Iranian nationals. | Deputy Health Minister Qasem Janbabaei told the Young Journalists' Club (YJC) that they were both Iranian nationals. |
| They were the first two suspected cases of Covid-19 to be announced in Iran. | They were the first two suspected cases of Covid-19 to be announced in Iran. |
| State news agency IRNA reported that they had not travelled abroad or even outside of Qom province prior to their deaths. | |
| The agency later said that schools and universities in the province would be closed on Thursday as a precaution against further spread of the disease. | |
| Mr Janbabaei was quoted by the YJC as saying that "for the time being we have no reports at all" of cases outside Qom. | Mr Janbabaei was quoted by the YJC as saying that "for the time being we have no reports at all" of cases outside Qom. |
| BBC Persian understands that 25 people are being quarantined in the same hospital on suspicion that they might have Covid-19. | BBC Persian understands that 25 people are being quarantined in the same hospital on suspicion that they might have Covid-19. |
| More on the coronavirus outbreak | More on the coronavirus outbreak |
| Elsewhere in the Middle East, the United Arab Emirates has confirmed nine cases - all involving Chinese citizens - but so far no deaths. | Elsewhere in the Middle East, the United Arab Emirates has confirmed nine cases - all involving Chinese citizens - but so far no deaths. |
| In Egypt, a foreign national previously confirmed to have Covid-19 was recovering after the latest tests showed he was no longer carrying the virus, the World Health Organization said. He will remain in quarantine until the full 14-day period is over. | In Egypt, a foreign national previously confirmed to have Covid-19 was recovering after the latest tests showed he was no longer carrying the virus, the World Health Organization said. He will remain in quarantine until the full 14-day period is over. |
| Earlier on Tuesday, the WHO said there had been 75,197 reported cases of Covid-19 and 2009 related deaths. All but 918 of the cases and three of the deaths had been reported in China. | Earlier on Tuesday, the WHO said there had been 75,197 reported cases of Covid-19 and 2009 related deaths. All but 918 of the cases and three of the deaths had been reported in China. |
| WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a news conference that the data from China appeared to show a decline in new cases. | WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a news conference that the data from China appeared to show a decline in new cases. |
| "Outside China, we have seen a steady drip of new cases, but we have not yet seen sustained local transmission, except in specific circumstances like the Diamond Princess cruise ship," he added. | "Outside China, we have seen a steady drip of new cases, but we have not yet seen sustained local transmission, except in specific circumstances like the Diamond Princess cruise ship," he added. |
| At least 542 passengers and crew on the ship, which is quarantined in Japan, have so far been infected with the Covid-19 virus. The ship was carrying 3,700 people in total. | At least 542 passengers and crew on the ship, which is quarantined in Japan, have so far been infected with the Covid-19 virus. The ship was carrying 3,700 people in total. |