High-Ranking Iranian Official Catches Coronavirus

Mojtaba Zonnour urges Iranian people to stay calm as fatalities rise amid otubreak.

Mojtaba Zonnour, head of Iran's parliamentary security and foreign relations commission, said Thursday he has tested positive for coronavirus.
Zonnour, who is also a deputy from the country's virus-hit Qom city, said in a video message he is currently in quarantine.
He asked Iranian people to remain calm, adding that the country is determined to defeat the outbreak.
Iran confirmed on Thursday 22 deaths from coronavirus and confirmed 141 cases.
State-run media reported the virus has spread to 20 governorates, with 11 marked safe.
Earlier this week, an Iranian deputy minister and lawmaker also tested positive for the virus.
Iran is among over 35 countries, including the U.S., U.K., Singapore, France, Russia, Spain and India, which account for the nearly 80,000 COVID-19 cases confirmed around the world.
The global death toll is nearly 2,800, and China, where the outbreak originated, is the worst-hit with more than 78,000 cases and over 2,700 fatalities.
The World Health Organization has declared the outbreak an international health emergency. -