Nearly 3,000 COVID-19 Patients in Iran

The number of patients infected with the novel coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, reached 2,922 on Wednesday, including 92 who have died of the disease, health officials announced.
“Iran reported 586 new cases and 15 fatalities, bringing the death toll to 92 as of March 4,” Kianoush Jahanpour, Health Ministry spokesperson, was quoted as saying by ISNA.
Jahanpour explained why the number of new cases on Wednesday has decreased compared to the day before when officials announced over 800 new confirmed cases.
Noting that currently 24 laboratories are conducting the tests, he said, "The drop in the number of confirmed cases is linked to a decline in samples tested by laboratories. It does not mean that the number of the infected is on a downward trend."
Jahanpour said there is no longer a waiting time for detecting the virus in samples sent to laboratories across the country.
The infection has hit all but one of the 31 provinces in the country. Only the southwestern Bushehr Province has yet to announce any coronavirus cases.
Containment efforts are continuing in Iran to halt the spread of the deadly virus. With the Iranian New Year holidays only two weeks away, governors of several provinces have announced curbs on accommodation for travelers, including closure of hotels, inns and hostels, and a decision not to provide alternative temporary lodging in schools, stadiums and camps during the 14-day holiday.
Over 94,000 have contracted the disease worldwide, with China, South Korea, Iran and Italy reporting the most coronavirus patients, respectively. The respiratory illness has taken the lives of more than 3,200 people around the globe.