Iran's health ministry says two people have died after preliminary tests came back as positive for the new coronavirus disease, Covid-19.
Iran reports two coronavirus deaths
STEPANAKERT, FEBRUARY 20, ARTSAKHPRESS: Spokesman Kianush Jahanpour tweeted that they died due to their "old age and deficient immune systems" while being treated in hospital in Qom, according to BBC News. Deputy Health Minister Qasem Janbabaei told the Young Journalists' Club (YJC) that they were both Iranian nationals. They were the first two suspected cases of Covid-19 to be announced in Iran. State news agency IRNA reported that they had not travelled abroad or even outside of Qom province prior to their deaths. The agency later said that schools and universities in the province would be closed on Thursday as a precaution against further spread of the disease.
