A clinic in the Iranian city of Bandar Abbas was torched on Friday because some people believed that coronavirus patients from another city were quarantined in it, according to Iranian media reports.

Rumors spread that 10 infected people were transported from the city of Qom, the epicenter of the virus in Iran, to Towhid Clinic, according to social media posts.

However, the semi-official Fars News Agency referred to the claims of people being transferred to the southern Bandar Abbas city as “unfounded rumors” and that this information “angered” some residents who then set fire to the clinic.

Find out more in our dedicated coronavirus section here.

Protesters in Iran have set fire to Tohid Bandar Abbas Clinic where Coronavirus patients are being quarantined. #COVID19 #CoronaVirus #Pandemic pic.twitter.com/9xBa0ILU38 — Tore Rasmussen #boycottSAS (@ToreRasmussen) February 28, 2020



The hospital has a special ward for coronavirus patients, the news agency cited the director of public relations at the University of Hormozgan Medical Sciences Fatima Norouzian as saying. She added that any rumor about patients being in the clinic is “just a lie.”

Iranian women wear protective masks to prevent contracting a coronavirus, as they walk at Grand Bazaar in Tehran, Iran. (Reuters)

Number of coronavirus deaths in Iran jumps to 210

The number of deaths across Iran from the outbreak is at least 210, according to BBC Persian reports on Saturday citing sources from hospitals in Iran. Health officials said only 34 people have died of the virus so far and 388 people have been diagnosed.

Read more: Iran death toll from coronavirus reaches 210: BBC Persian

On Thursday, the deputy head of Qom’s medical university said Iran may resort to setting up field hospitals in Qom as hospitals have hit maximum capacity due to the coronavirus outbreak in the city.

Read more: Iran may set up field hospitals in Qom as facilities hit max capacity

Pompeo reacts to Iran’s coronavirus outbreak



US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo expressed his concern on Friday due to the spread of coronavirus in Iran.



“I’m deeply concerned by the spread of #coronavirus in #Iran and the public health risk to the Iranian people and their neighbors,” Pompeo said in a tweet. “The US offers our humanitarian assistance to the people of Iran to help unmet needs in their response efforts.

I’m deeply concerned by the spread of #coronavirus in #Iran and the public health risk to the Iranian people and their neighbors. The U.S. offers our humanitarian assistance to the people of Iran to help unmet needs in their response efforts. — Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) February 28, 2020



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Last Update: Wednesday, 20 May 2020 KSA 09:54 - GMT 06:54