Iran's coronavirus death toll rises to 12 with 47 confirmed cases

TEHRAN, Feb 24 (MENA) - The coronavirus death toll in Iran has risen to 12 and the total number of confirmed cases to 47, Al Arabiya news website reported, quoting state media.

“Fourty-seven people have so far been infected with coronavirus in the country based on a report by the health minister,” the semi-official Mehr news agency quoted the spokesperson for the Iranian parliament’s presiding board Asadollah Abbasi as saying.

“Unfortunately, 12 people have died from coronavirus to date,” Abbasi said.

Abbasi also said Iran has no shortage of health and medical facilities and citizens should not worry.

“Based on the health minister’s report, coronavirus will disappear as the weather warms up,” he added.

Coronavirus, which initially broke out in the Chinese city of Wuhan, claimed its first victims in Iran on Wednesday when two elderly people died in the Shia holy city of Qom.