Iran reports 1,075 more COVID-19 cases, total reaches 10,075
Updated 19:50, 12-Mar-2020
CGTN

Iran's Health Ministry on Thursday reported 1,075 more cases of COVID-19 in the country, taking the nationwide tally to 10,075.

In addition, 75 more deaths from the coronavirus were registered 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 the state television.

Several senior Iranian officials were among the victims, including Fatemeh Rahbar, a newly elected member of the Iranian Parliament and an adviser to Iran's foreign minister.

On Thursday, Iran reached out to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for loan, the first time since 1962.

Our central bank requested access to the IMF's Rapid Financing Instrument (RFI), Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Twitter, urging the fund's board to respond to the request "responsibly."

A nurse wears protective gear in a ward dedicated for people infected with the new coronavirus at a hospital in Tehran, Iran, March 8, 2020. /AP

A nurse wears protective gear in a ward dedicated for people infected with the new coronavirus at a hospital in Tehran, Iran, March 8, 2020. /AP