The rapid spread of the coronavirus in the Middle East
According to official data, there are 139 people infected with the coronavirus in Iran and 19 deaths, said the spokesman of the Ministry of Health, Kianush Jahanpur, in an announcement on state television. These figures do not correspond with the version given by the regional deputy of Qom province, Ahmad Amirabadi Farhani, last Monday, as he raised the number of people who died after being infected by COVID-19 to 50.
In the last 24 hours, 44 new cases have been confirmed. The Islamic Republic is the country with the highest number of coronavirus-related deaths outside China, behind the region where the outbreak began, Wuhan. Among those affected by the virus are the mayor of Tehran and the Iranian vice minister of health.
Authorities urged Iranians to avoid any non-essential travel to limit the spread of the virus. According to a Harvard University epidemiology professor, reported by Al Arabiya, the number of cases of infection could be as high as 1,500. The estimate is based on the official death toll in Iran, which stood at 15 on Tuesday, and global estimates, which put the death rate in the range of one to two percent.
Iranian President Hasan Rohani has said there have been "good efforts in the country for prevention, diagnosis, quarantine and treatment", and that the latest reports from the ministry are "promising". But the figures do not support this claim. The new infections are spread over 14 provinces out of Iran's 31, showing the gradual spread of the disease throughout the country. In his speech, Rohaní told the citizens that "they should not pay attention to the rumors", defending the reliability of the official data and trying to silence the versions like the one of the deputy Amirabadi Farhan or the declarations of the American Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, who has declared the "concern" that Iran has hidden details about the spread of the virus.
Iran's isolation in the Arabian Peninsula is almost total. Neighboring countries such as Turkey, Iraq, Pakistan, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Armenia have closed their land borders and most airlines, including Turkish Airlines and Emirates, have suspended their flights or imposed restrictions on travel from Iran.
Meanwhile, Bahrain has suspended classes in all public and private schools in the midst of the coronavirus outbreak and Oman will transfer stranded travellers from Iran to Muscat.
In the case of Oman, the Ministry of Health has reported two new cases, making a total of four. All of them had recently travelled to Iran. A total of 250 people of different nationalities are quarantined in Oman.
The Ministry of Health of Kuwait has reported a total of 11 people, also related to travel to Iran. Bahrain has identified nine new cases of coronavirus from Iran, bringing the total number in the Gulf Kingdom to 26, according to the state news agency BNA, citing the Ministry of Health.
On Monday, the country announced a ban on travel to Iran and the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibition Authority (BTEA) issued a statement warning that anyone who breaks the law on travel to the Islamic Republic will face severe reprimands. "The measure comes from the government to intensify efforts to protect the health and safety of citizens and residents," said BTEA Executive Director Nader Khalil Almoayyed.
Manama also suspended flights to airports with Dubai and Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates, which was the first country to declare the first case of coronavirus on the Arabian Peninsula.
The origin of the virus was in Wuhan, China, and since then 77,658 people have been infected and 2,663 have died, according to China's National Health Commission.
