Iran shuts schools, cultural centres as coronavirus kills eight

Iran on Feb. 22 ordered the closure of schools, universities and cultural centres after a coronavirus outbreak that has killed eight people in the Islamic republic -- the most outside the Far East.

The moves came as Iranian authorities reported one more death among 15 new cases of the virus.

Since it emerged in December, the new coronavirus has killed 2,345 people in China, the epicentre of the epidemic, and 17 elsewhere in the world.

The COVID-19 outbreak in Iran first surfaced on Feb. 19, when authorities said it claimed the lives of two elderly people in Qom, a Shiite holy city south of the capital.

They were the first confirmed deaths from the virus in the Middle East. Iran reported two more deaths on Feb. 21.

The death toll from coronavirus in Iran has risen to eight, according to a statement released by the country's Health Ministry on Feb. 23.

Spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour also reported 15 new coronavirus cases taking the total to 43.

Jahanpour said seven of the new cases of the virus, officially known as COVID-19, were detected in Qom city, four others in the capital Tehran, two others in Gilan city and one each in Markazi and Mazandaran provinces.

Based on official figures, nearly 18 percent of those infected with the new coronavirus in Iran have died, compared with little more than three percent in China.

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As a "preventive measure", authorities ordered the closure of schools, universities and other educational centres in 14 provinces across the country, state television reported.

They include Qom, Markazi, Gilan, Ardabil, Kermanshah, Qazvin, Zanjan, Mazandaran, Golestan, Hamedan, Alborz, Semnan, Kurdistan and the capital, Tehran.

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