(Adds top advisor's infection, IMF)
DUBAI, March 12 (Reuters) - Iran on Thursday reported 75 new
deaths from the coronavirus in the past 24 hours, the health
ministry said, bringing the death toll to 429 in the worst-hit
country in the Middle East.
"We have identified 1,075 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in
the last 24 hours, meaning that there are 10,075 infected people
in the country. The death toll is 429," Health Ministry
spokesman Kianush Jahanpur told state television.
Iran on Thursday said it had asked the International
Monetary Fund (IMF) for $5 billion in emergency funding to
combat the coronavirus outbreak. The outbreak has infected a host of senior officials,
politicians, clerics and members of the elite Revolutionary
Guards in Iran, the fourth worst-affected nation after China,
South Korea and Italy.
Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency said on Thursday
that Ali Akbar Velayati, a top adviser to Iran's utmost
authority Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, had also been
infected and was now under quarantine. At least seven officials and politicians have died since
Feb. 19, when Iran announced first infections and two deaths
from the virus.
Iran's clerical rulers have been struggling to contain the
spread of the virus, despite the closure of schools and
universities and the suspension of religious, cultural and
sports events across the country.
Iranian officials have repeatedly urged people to avoid
unnecessary trips and stay at home.
"Stay at home. Don't go shopping. You are making our job
more difficult by ignoring the advice," Health Minister Saeed
Namaki told Iranians on a live programme.
(Writing by Parisa Hafezi; Editing by Angus MacSwan, Kevin
Liffey, Kirsten Donovan)