Iran capital cancels Friday prayers as coronavirus deaths reach 26

Iran said hat its death toll from coronavirus had risen to 26 and the total number of infected people now stood at 245, the highest number of deaths from the virus outside China.

The outbreak prompted authorities to call off the Friday prayer in Tehran, state TV later reported, while state news agency IRNA said Iran has banned Chinese citizens from entering the country.

“In the past 24 hours, we have had 106 [new] confirmed cases … The death toll has reached 26,” health ministry spokesperson Kianush Jahanpur told state TV, calling on Iranians to avoid “unnecessary trips inside the country”.

Jahanpur said there are plans to impose some restrictions at holy Shi’ite Muslim sites and cancel some sermons on Friday, the Islamic Republic’s traditional day of public prayer.

“But it needs the approval of the president before being carried out,” he said, adding that hundreds of those suspected of being infected by the virus had recovered and been discharged from hospital.