Iran's deputy health minister says he has coronavirus, latest developments

Iraj Harirchi coughed occasionally and wiped sweat from his brow repeatedly during a news conference in Tehran on Monday with government spokesman Ali Rabiei.

At the time, he denied a lawmaker's claim that 50 people had died from the virus in the Shiite shrine city of Qom, saying he would resign if the number proved accurate.

In a video broadcast on state television, the deputy minister put on a brave face as he admitted he was infected.

"I too have been infected with coronavirus," Harirchi said in the video apparently shot by himself.

"I had a fever as of last night and my preliminary test was positive around midnight," he said.

"I've isolated myself in a place since. A few minutes ago, I was told that my test was final, and now I am starting medication.

- 'Virus does not discriminate' -

"I wanted to tell you that... we will definitely be victorious against this virus in the next few weeks," Harirchi declared.

But he warned Iranians to be careful as the "virus does not discriminate" and infects anyone, regardless of their standing.

Following news of Harirchi's infection, government spokesman Rabiei, who stood by his side on Monday, appeared at another news conference on Tuesday with the country's industries minister and other officials.

READ: Iraq confirms first novel coronavirus case

A prominent Iranian reformist politician, Mahmoud Sadeghi, also announced he had tested positive for the virus.

"My coronavirus test was positive. I send this message but I don't have much hope of staying alive," Sadeghi said in a tweet.

He used the occasion to call on the judiciary to provide prison leave time to those detained over political and security charges so that "they can go through this epidemic with their families".

Iran confirmed three more deaths and 34 new infections on Tuesday, taking the country's overall death toll to 15 and infection tally to 95.

The Islamic republic has been hit by the deadliest coronavirus outbreak by far outside China, the epidemic's epicentre.

- Quarantine an 'old method' -

According to the health ministry, most of the deaths and infections outside Qom are among people who have recently visited the holy city.

The ministry's spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour said 16 of the new cases were confirmed in Qom, while nine were in Tehran, and two each in Alborz, Gilan and Mazandaran.

The virus appeared to be spreading to new parts of Iran, as one new case was also reported in the provinces of Fars and Khorasan Razavi, as well as Qeshm island.

Despite being the epicentre of the outbreak in Iran, Qom has yet to be quarantined.

Health Minister Saeed Namaki defended the decision on Tuesday and said that quarantine was an "old method".

"We still do not agree with quarantining cities since we believe the people are cultured enough to refrain from travelling from infected cities to other places," semi-official news agency ISNA quoted him as saying.

READ: China considers 'complete ban' on wildlife trade

Here are the latest global developments in the coronavirus crisis: 

- 2,663 dead in China -

Mainland China reports 71 new deaths, the lowest rise in almost three weeks, taking the nationwide death toll to 2,663.

More than 77,000 people are now reported infected, with 508 new cases.

- Pandemic fears -

World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus tells countries to do everything they can to "prepare for a potential pandemic" across numerous communities.

- South Korea, Iran hotspots - 

South Korea remains the most affected country outside mainland China. Some 144 new cases are reported, raising the number of infections to 977 with 10 deaths.

Scores of events are cancelled or postponed across the country including K-pop concerts, the start of the K-league football season, parliamentary sessions and the World Team Table Tennis championships.

President Moon Jae-in warns the "situation is very grave". 

In Iran, three more deaths and 34 new infections are confirmed, taking its death toll to 15 and infection tally to 95. It is the country with the highest number of fatalities outside China.

Iraq confirms four new cases in a family returning from Iran, bringing its total number of diagnosed infections to five.

The United Arab Emirates suspends all passenger and cargo flights to Iran. 

- Mismanagement in Italy? -

Italy, which has the most confirmed cases in Europe, reports 283 people have tested positive for the virus and seven people have so far died. 

Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte blames poor management in a hospital in the north for the outbreak.

Production in Venice of the latest film in the "Mission: Impossible" blockbuster series starring Tom Cruise is halted before shooting begins.

Hundreds of people are confined to their rooms at a Tenerife hotel on the Canary Islands after an Italian tourist is hospitalised with a suspected case.

- Japan football on hold -

A fourth person dies after becoming ill on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship, quarantined off Japan. The Japanese man in his 80s died in a hospital after he had been removed from the ship.

Nearly 700 onboard the Diamond Princess have so far tested positive for the virus. 

Japan suspends all matches in its football J-League and cup until mid-March, joining China and South Korea in putting their domestic football on hold.