The president of Iran Hassan Rouhani stated on Saturday that around 25 million Iranians have got infected with the novel coronavirus or COVID-19 and another 35 million are at risk of acquiring.
The figures, which Rouhani said were based on a new Health Ministry report, are far higher Iran's official toll of 269,440 infected. Rouhani in a televised speech did not address the discrepancy. Iran, with a population of more than 80 million, has been the Middle East country's hardest hit by the epidemic.
Rouhani on COVID-19
"Our estimate is that as of now 25 million Iranians have been infected with this virus and about 14,000 have lost their dear lives," Rouhani said in the speech. "There is the possibility that between 30 and 35 million other people will be at risk," he said. "In total, more than 200,000 people have been hospitalized," he said. The Health Ministry on Friday said 13,791 people had died from COVID-19.
The deadly virus outbreak has created a major stir around the world in recent times infecting more than 14.1 million people worldwide and claimed the lives of over 602,000 people globally in more than 170 countries.
(With agency inputs)
