Coronavirus outbreak: Iran health minister appears ill at news conference before COVID-19 diagnosis

Iran's deputy health minister and head of the country's counter-coronavirus task force Iraj Harirchi appeared to be ill at a news conference about COVID-19 cases in Tehran on Monday, a day before he was reported to have been tested positive for the virus.

Harirchi continuously wiped his forehead throughout the news conference, and at one point an aide brought more tissues for him to use.

Harirchi stood next Iranian government spokesman Ali Rabei at the news conference, in which Harirchi said 12 people had died due to the virus, denied reports that 50 people had died and added "we are not in favour of" quarantine measures.

Health Ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour confirmed Harirchi had the virus. Harirchi himself posted an online video saying he had the virus and that he had quarantined himself at his home. He promised that authorities would bring the virus under control.

For more info, please go to

Subscribe to Global News Channel HERE:

Like Global News on Facebook HERE:

Follow Global News on Twitter HERE:

Follow Global News on Instagram HERE:

#GlobalNews #Coronavirusoutbreak

iran coronavirus,iran deputy minister coronavirus,Iraj Harirchi,iraj harirchi coronavirus,WHO coronavirus update,global outbreak coronavirus,coronavirus italy,coronavirus news,virus in Canada,china virus,What is coronavirus,Coronavirus,China,Wuhan,Coronavirus outbreak,coronavirus,China virus outbreak,China coronavirus,Wuhan novel coronavirus,coronavirus epidemic,