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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Abigail O'Leary

Iran's vice-president diagnosed with coronavirus as country battles outbreak

Iran's vice-president has been diagnosed with coronavirus as the country battles to stop the spread of the disease.

Masoumeh Ebtekar is among 254 people infected with the virus in the Middle Eastern nation, where 26 people have been killed.

Yesterday, deputy health minister Iraj Harirchi was also confirmed as having the disease after he appeared ill on stage during a press conference about the virus.

He was seen continually wiping perspiration from his forehead before being diagnosed just hours later.

Now, Ebtekar, vice-president for women and family affairs, has also been confirmed as suffering from the virus.

It is believed she will now self-isolate and begin medication - a course of action Iraj Harirchi said he had taken on Tuesday.

Iranian Deputy Health Minister Iraj Harirchi has tested positive for coronavirus after appearing unwell on stage (Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Harirchi said in a video released online: "I had a fever as of last night and my preliminary test was positive around midnight.

"I've isolated myself in a place since... and now I am starting medication.

"We will definitely be victorious against this virus in the next few weeks."

Cases in Iran spiked by 106 over the last 24 hours, the health minister said today.

Iran's death toll from coronavirus is higher than any other country with confirmed cases - except China, where the outbreak began.

It has prompted authorities to cancel Friday prayers in Tehran.

Vice President for Women and Family Affairs Masoumeh Ebtekar has been diagnosed with coronavirus (Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

There are also plans to impose restrictions on access to some Holy Muslim sites - but he said these plans "need the approval of the president before being carried out".

The director general of the World Health Organization (WHO) has said the sudden increase in cases in countries outside China is "deeply concerning".

Other countries currently in the spotlight are South Korea and Italy, where cases have surged in recent days.

Since it emergence late last year, there are now more than 80,000 cases reported worldwide.

Most of the reported fatal cases have been people who are elderly and dying.

In China, doctors fighting the disease have been given a helping hand, thanks to coronavirus patrol robots .

The robots are being used in hospitals in Shenyang in China's northeastern Liaoning province (AFP via Getty Images)

The robots are being used in hospitals in Shenyang in China's northeastern Liaoning province, in the hopes of preventing the virus from spreading.

The bots can quickly check people’s temperatures and identities, and even disinfect them, according to AFP.

AFP explained: “The hospital uses the robot to reduce the pressure on front-line medical staff and to avoid cross infections from the COVID-19 coronavirus.”


These aren’t the only robots being used to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

Sixteen robots dubbed ‘Little Peanut’ have been deployed in a hospital in Hangzhou, where they’ve been delivering food to people in quarantine.


Meanwhile, seven medical robots and 14 catering robots have been donated to the Shenyang Red Cross to help hospitals combat the virus.

Earlier this month, Chinese President Xi Jinping praised China’s futuristic technology for helping to curb the spread.

He said: “The fight against the epidemic cannot be achieved without the support of science and technology.”

Meanwhile, The Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology has called on the tech sector for help, suggesting that robots, temperature screening machines and devices that can help reduce human contact should be deployed.

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