Meanwhile in Iran - some are busily LICKING SHRINES -
Iran has officially announced 1,501 cases and 66 deaths, after 523 new infections and 12 extra fatalities were reported today.
But the resulting death rate of 4.4 per cent is much higher than the global two per cent, sparking concern that there may in fact be far more infections than that.
The opposition NCRI, which is exiled in Paris and fiercely opposed to the regime, claims that the death toll is now as high as 650, citing its own figures.
Shahin Gobadi, a spokesman for the group, claimed that the death toll included 150 fatalities in the capital Tehran and a similar number in the holy city of Qom. The NCRI's claims are unverified.
Journalist Masih Alinejad, who tweeted the worrying clips of people licking the shrine in Qom, said that by keeping the religious sites open the regime was 'endangering the lives of Iranians and the world'.
Footage shows people licking the doors and burial mound inside the Fatima Masumeh shrine in Qom, a common practice which has continued despite token warnings from the health ministry.
Worshippers in the videos brazenly state they 'don't care what happens', even if they catch or spread the infection which has killed at least 54 in the country.
Iran's hardline clerical establishment has refused to shut down Qom despite the holy city suffering the brunt of the outbreak and pilgrims spreading the virus across the Middle East.
One person who kisses the shrine in the holy Shi'ite city demands people 'stop scaring people [about] coronavirus'. A child is even hailed for licking the doors.
The shrine, which has remained open and is disinfected daily, attracts Shi'ites from across Iran, Pakistan, Iraq, Bahrain and other countries.
Separately, police have arrested one man who posted a video of himself licking the metal enclosing the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad, according to reports by semi-official news agencies.
In the video, the man said he licked the metal to 'allow others to visit the shrine with peace of mind.'
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ar...-senior-Iranian-official-die-coronavirus.html
Iran has officially announced 1,501 cases and 66 deaths, after 523 new infections and 12 extra fatalities were reported today.
But the resulting death rate of 4.4 per cent is much higher than the global two per cent, sparking concern that there may in fact be far more infections than that.
The opposition NCRI, which is exiled in Paris and fiercely opposed to the regime, claims that the death toll is now as high as 650, citing its own figures.
Shahin Gobadi, a spokesman for the group, claimed that the death toll included 150 fatalities in the capital Tehran and a similar number in the holy city of Qom. The NCRI's claims are unverified.
Journalist Masih Alinejad, who tweeted the worrying clips of people licking the shrine in Qom, said that by keeping the religious sites open the regime was 'endangering the lives of Iranians and the world'.
Footage shows people licking the doors and burial mound inside the Fatima Masumeh shrine in Qom, a common practice which has continued despite token warnings from the health ministry.
Worshippers in the videos brazenly state they 'don't care what happens', even if they catch or spread the infection which has killed at least 54 in the country.
Iran's hardline clerical establishment has refused to shut down Qom despite the holy city suffering the brunt of the outbreak and pilgrims spreading the virus across the Middle East.
One person who kisses the shrine in the holy Shi'ite city demands people 'stop scaring people [about] coronavirus'. A child is even hailed for licking the doors.
The shrine, which has remained open and is disinfected daily, attracts Shi'ites from across Iran, Pakistan, Iraq, Bahrain and other countries.
Separately, police have arrested one man who posted a video of himself licking the metal enclosing the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad, according to reports by semi-official news agencies.
In the video, the man said he licked the metal to 'allow others to visit the shrine with peace of mind.'
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ar...-senior-Iranian-official-die-coronavirus.html
