TEHRAN, Mar 19 (NNN-IRNA) – President, Hassan Rouhani, said, Iran’s response to COVID-19 outbreak, more efficient than Western countries.
Addressing a cabinet session, Rouhani said, his government managed to meet the needs of the people, especially for food and sanitary items.
“You can compare Iran to other countries … Compare Tehran to London, Berlin, and Paris … See for yourselves what is going on there. Shop racks have been emptied and people got into a fight over a roll of toilet paper,” Rouhani was quoted by state TV, as saying.
“The people there are concerned about foodstuff, and their hospitals say they have run out of beds,” he said, adding, Iran met public requirements as the government has done all in its power to deal with the crisis.
Following the outbreak, Iran increased its capacity of producing sanitary and medical products, for the general public and medical personnel, while also meeting part of the demands through imports, he said.
Rouhani noted that, Iran would not face shortage of hospital beds, and that public and private medical sectors, as well as, the armed forces will continue to serve the people.
Iran is the worst-hit country in the Middle East by the COVID-19.
As of Wednesday, Iran announced that the total number of COVID-19 cases in the country rose to 17,361, of whom 1,135 have died and 5,710 have recovered.– NNN-IRNA
