Khamenei Says Coronavirus Resurgence in Iran ‘Truly Tragic’

Iran

July 12th, 6:04pm

Asharq Al-Awsat

Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei wears a protective face mask, during a virtual meeting with lawmakers in Tehran, Iran July 12, 2020. Official Khamenei Website/Handout via REUTERS

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei called on Sunday the coronavirus resurgence "truly tragic" and urged all citizens to help rein it in. Iran, which has been struggling to contain the outbreak since announcing its first cases in February, has reported more than 12,829 deaths and 257,303 infections, according to Sunday's official figures. With a population of more than 80 million, Iran is the 9th worst-affected country in the world and has seen the region's deadliest outbreak. Infections in the country have been on the rise since early May, prompting authorities to make wearing masks mandatory in enclosed public spaces. Iran also ranks as the Middle East's worst-affect country on a per-capita basis, with 153 deaths per million -- 25th worldwide.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2385726/khamenei-says-coronavirus-resurgence-iran-%E2%80%98truly-tragic%E2%80%99