Top Iranian Health Official Tests Positive for Coronavirus

(Bloomberg) -- A top Iranian health official has been diagnosed with coronavirus in another sign the disease may be spiraling out of control in the country.

Iraj Harirchi, a deputy health minister who has been the face of the government’s campaign against the virus, said he tested positive for it late Monday, the day he gave a press briefing on efforts to combat the outbreak.

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Iran has become the epicenter of the disease in the Middle East, recording the highest number of deaths outside China. It has reported 15 deaths and 95 confirmed cases so far, and all of its Arab neighbors that have been affected by the virus have linked their cases to Iran.

Harirchi confirmed the news in a video clip published on social media, adding that he was in good health and promising that Iran would defeat its coronavirus epidemic in a few weeks.

To contact the reporter on this story: Arsalan Shahla in Tehran at ashahla@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Shaji Mathew at shajimathew@bloomberg.net, Abbas Al Lawati

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