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| Coronavirus: Iran cancels Friday prayers to limit spread of outbreak | Coronavirus: Iran cancels Friday prayers to limit spread of outbreak |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Iran cancelled Friday prayers in Tehran and 22 other provincial capitals for the first time in decades to limit the spread of the new coronavirus disease. | Iran cancelled Friday prayers in Tehran and 22 other provincial capitals for the first time in decades to limit the spread of the new coronavirus disease. |
| It also placed some restrictions on access to major Shia Muslim shrines in Qom, the epicentre of the country's Covid-19 outbreak, and Mashhad. | It also placed some restrictions on access to major Shia Muslim shrines in Qom, the epicentre of the country's Covid-19 outbreak, and Mashhad. |
| The Iranian health ministry meanwhile warned that the number of cases would continue to rise in the coming days. | The Iranian health ministry meanwhile warned that the number of cases would continue to rise in the coming days. |
| On Friday, it reported 388 confirmed cases and 34 related deaths. | |
| The death toll is by far the highest number outside China. | The death toll is by far the highest number outside China. |
| Masoumeh Ebtekar, Iran's vice-president for women's and family affairs and the highest-ranking woman in the Iranian government, became the latest official to be infected on Thursday. | Masoumeh Ebtekar, Iran's vice-president for women's and family affairs and the highest-ranking woman in the Iranian government, became the latest official to be infected on Thursday. |
| One local website reported that Ms Ebtekar had attended a meeting with President Hassan Rouhani and a number of ministers shortly before testing positive. | One local website reported that Ms Ebtekar had attended a meeting with President Hassan Rouhani and a number of ministers shortly before testing positive. |
| Iran has also been the source of dozens of cases in neighbouring countries, including Afghanistan, Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman and Pakistan. | Iran has also been the source of dozens of cases in neighbouring countries, including Afghanistan, Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman and Pakistan. |
| There have been 82,000 reported cases of Covid-19 worldwide and 2,800 deaths since the disease emerged late last year. All but 3,664 cases and 57 of the deaths have been reported in China. | There have been 82,000 reported cases of Covid-19 worldwide and 2,800 deaths since the disease emerged late last year. All but 3,664 cases and 57 of the deaths have been reported in China. |