Iran reopens mosques as virus deaths rise by 74

Iran on Monday opened mosques in parts of the country considered at low risk from the coronavirus as it declared another 74 deaths from the disease.

Health ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour stated the new deaths brought to 6,277 the total number recorded in Iran since it recorded its first cases in mid-February.

That was a rise in deaths compared with 47 on Sunday, which was the lowest daily count that Iran has reported in 55 days.

Another 1,223 cases of Covid-19 infections were reported in the past 24 hours, Jahanpour said, raising the total to 98,647.

Mosques were allowed to reopen to worshippers in 132, or around a third, of Iran’s administrative divisions which are considered low-risk.

The country has started using a colour-coded system of “white”, “yellow” and “red” for different areas to classify the virus risk.

Worshippers have to enter mosques with masks and gloves, can only stay for half an hour during prayer times and must use their personal items, stated the health ministry.

Mosques must also refrain from offering food and drinks, offer hand sanitisers and disinfect all surfaces, it said.

According to Jahanpour, 79,397 of those hospitalised with the disease since Iran recorded its first cases in mid-February have been discharged, while 2,676 are in critical condition.

He declared that Iran was among “top five countries in the world” with the highest number of recoveries, without elaborating.

Experts and officials both in Iran and abroad have cast doubts over the country’s Covid-19 figures, saying the real number of cases could be much higher than reported.