Adviser to Iran's supreme leader dies after falling sick from new coronavirus

[UpInArms]

Source: Marketwatch

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — A member of a council that advises Iran’s supreme leader died Monday after falling sick from the new coronavirus, state radio reported, becoming the first top official to succumb to the illness striking both citizens and leaders of the Islamic Republic.

The death of Expediency Council member Mohammad Mirmohammadi, 71, came as Iran announced the virus had killed 66 people among 1,501 confirmed cases in the country. In two days, the number of confirmed cases has more than doubled, showing the spiraling crisis of the outbreak as Iran says it is preparing to mobilize 300,000 soldiers and volunteers to confront the virus.

Iran has the highest death toll in the world after China, the epicenter of the virus that causes the illness called COVID-19.

Read more: https://www.marketwatch.com/story/adviser-to-iran-supreme-leader-dies-after-falling-sick-from-new-coronavirus-2020-03-02?mod=home-page

[Iliyah]

1. This virus doesn't care about status . . .

RIP

[erlewyne]

3. I sure hope the Pope recovers

This virus doesn't care about status . . .

[thecrow]

6. I didn't know the Pope had it!

This is completely sad~!

[LisaL]

8. Officially pop just has a regular cold.

[dalton99a]

2. The death of Expediency Council member was expeditious

[Devil Child]

4. Allah works in mysterious ways n/t

[mr_lebowski]

5. How exactly are 300,000 soldiers going to be used to 'confront the virus'?

That sounds pretty ominous if you think about it ...

[Igel]

7. The North Korean way.

When they see it, they'll shoot to kill it, in a glorious (but quite futile) attempt to save the host.

[hardluck]

9. There's always a silver lining.

[muriel_volestrangler]

10. Iran steps up coronavirus efforts as 23 MPs said to be infected

Iran has announced plans to mobilise 300,000 soldiers and volunteers against the deadliest outbreak of the coronavirus outside China, as state television quoted an MP as saying 23 members of parliament were infected.

On Tuesday, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the country’s supreme leader, ordered the country’s armed forces to assist health officials in combating the outbreak.

“Whatever helps public health and prevents the spread of the disease is good and what helps to spread it is sin,” Khamenei said, as the deputy health minister, Alireza Raeisi, reported more infections and a death toll of 77.

Raeisi said 2,336 cases had now been confirmed in Iran, 835 more than the previous total, but experts fear Iran’s high ratio of deaths to infections – now about 3.3% – may mean the actual infection figure is far greater.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/03/iran-steps-up-coronavirus-efforts-as-23-mps-said-to-be-infected