Iran Wire
A Tehran official could be the latest person to have contracted the coronavirus in Iran, amid reports that Iran has the highest death toll from the virus outside China.
On February 22, the Club of Young Journalists reported that the mayor of Tehran District 13, Mojtaba Rahmanzadeh, had been infected and hospitalized, which was confirmed by the municipality’s public relations department. There are also unconfirmed reports that the mayor had been in contact with the Dutch Foreign Minister before news of his illness emerged. Iran’s foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif had also met with the minister.
Related Story: Iran Says 12 Dead From New Virus, Rejects Higher Death Toll
The announcement fuelled fears that coronavirus could spread to other officials, including Mohsen Hashemi, the Chair of Tehran’s City Council, and several other council members, all of whom Rahmanzadeh met with over the last week.
“I will go to the hospital today for a virus test because of my meeting with the mayor of District 13, who is suspected of being infected with coronavirus, and will stay at home for the time being,” Mohsen Hashimi said on Saturday, February 22.
Read More →
