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Iran's death toll from the new coronavirus has reached 54, the nation's Health Ministry spokesman told state TV, adding that the number of people infected had reached 978. But Press TV correspondent Ghanbar Naderi claims these numbers are already one week too old and Iran's Government is struggling to keep up with the outbreak. Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today Programme, he said: “I spoke to the spokesman of the Health Ministry yesterday and these are the figures of last week, not today.”

Describing the extent of the deadly virus in Iran, he added: “There are some who are not taking this very seriously. It has affected everything, our every day lives, our businesses, our communities, our travel system. “Nobody is sending their kids to school these days, including me. The Government has ordered to shut down schools, universities, and public places, mass gatherings. “Even for the first time, Friday prayers were not held in many provinces. "This is unprecedented, after 41 years, this is a very religious and fanatic country but the word was given and nobody had the guts to go against the will of the establishment and attend the Friday prayers. READ MORE: Coronavirus: Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe suffers ‘cold’ in prison

Coronavirus Iran: The death toll from coronavirus in Iran has climbed to 54 on Sunday

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“That’s how serious the situation is.” Iran has had the highest number of deaths from the coronavirus outside of China, where the outbreak originated, and several countries in the region have reported infections among people who travelled to the Islamic Republic. "There were 385 new cases of infected people in the last 24 hours, increasing the total number to 978. The death toll is 54," spokesman Kianush Jahanpur said, calling on Iranians to avoid any unnecessary trips and stay at home. Some neighbouring countries have closed their borders with several countries stopping flights.

Iran will put together approximately 300,000 teams, starting on Tuesday, to perform door-to-door coronavirus screening Health Minister Saeed Namaki said on state TV on Sunday. Dependants and some staff are being evacuated from the British embassy in Tehran as of March 1 due to coronavirus but essential staff will remain, Britain's Foreign Office said on Sunday as part of a travel advisory for Iran posted online. "As of 1 March, dependants and some staff from the British Embassy are being withdrawn from Iran due to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Essential staff needed to continue critical work will remain," the advisory said. "In the event that the situation deteriorates further, the ability of the British Embassy to provide assistance to British nationals from within Iran may be limited." DON'T MISS:

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