Conflicting Reports In Iran On How Many Have Died From Covid-19

SCMP: Coronavirus: how Iran’s death toll came to be the highest behind only China

* Iran’s health minister says the infections are believed to be linked to a merchant who bypassed travel restrictions by making indirect flights to China
* Qom, south of the capital Tehran, has been identified as the centre of contagion, but authorities have warned it is possible the virus is present in all cities

Iran has been thrust to the forefront of rising global concern about the spread of the novel coronavirus after reporting by far the most deaths of any country apart from China.

Iranian health officials have confirmed 12 deaths from the Covid-19 disease among 61 cases in the country, while a parliamentarian representing the city at the centre of the outbreak in the country has claimed the death toll stands at 50.

Either figure would dwarf death tolls in South Korea, Japan and Italy, until now the most severely-affected countries outside China, where at last 79,000 people have taken ill and more than 2,600 people have lost their lives since the virus was first detected in Wuhan in December.

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WNU Editor: The latest patient who tested positive in Canada had visited Iran .... B.C.'s 6th presumptive COVID-19 case flew from Montreal to Vancouver on Feb. 14 (CBC).

More News On Conflicting Reports In Iran On How Many Have Died From Covid-19

Iran MP alleges coronavirus cover-up, says '50 dead' in holy city of Qom -- Middle East Eye
Iran says 12 dead from new virus, rejects higher death toll -- ABC News
Coronavirus: Iran denies cover-up as death toll rises to 12 -- BBC
Iran Denies Cover-Up After Lawmaker Contradicts Official Coronavirus Figures, Says 50 Dead -- Gizmodo
Iranian Lawmaker Says 50 Have Died From Coronavirus Outbreak In Qom -- Zero Hedge