Death toll reaches 19 in Iran after four more fall victim to deadly disease

• The coronavirus outbreak has claimed several lives as scientists struggle to develop a vaccine to cure the disease.
• Iran has as the highest number of deaths from coronavirus outside China, where the virus emerged late last year.
• Most of the neighbouring countries including Pakistan, Turkey and Armenia have also closed their borders with Iran.

(Karachi) The toll in coronavirus related deaths in Iran reached 19 after four more people lost their lives while 139 others have been infected by the disease, health ministry spokesman Kianush Jahanpur said on Wednesday.

Iran has as the highest number of deaths from coronavirus outside China, where the virus emerged late last year. The coronavirus outbreak has claimed several lives as scientists struggle to develop a vaccine to cure the disease.

Iran has been badly affected by the epidemic, compelling the local government to shut schools and educational institutions in four major cities.

With the occurrence of new cases this month, the toll has increased to alarming levels as the Iranian government is striving to stop the deadly outbreak.

Iranian travelers infected with the virus have also been reported in Canada, United Arab Emirates and Lebanon.

The number of deaths compared to the number of infections is higher in Iran than in any other country, including China and South Korea where the outbreak is far more widespread.

In view of the situation, most of the neighbouring countries including Pakistan, Turkey and Armenia have also closed their borders with Iran.