[Asia Economy Reporter Chunhee Lee] The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Iran has surpassed 60,000. However, the daily number of new cases is gradually decreasing.
The Iranian Ministry of Health announced that as of noon on the 6th (local time), the number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) increased by 2,274 from the previous day, reaching 60,500. The daily increase in confirmed cases compared to the previous day has been declining for a week since the 31st of last month. During this period, the daily growth rate of confirmed cases also dropped from 7.5% to 3.9%.
The death toll increased by 136 from the previous day, totaling 3,739. The fatality rate, which represents the ratio of cumulative deaths to cumulative confirmed cases, stands at 6.2%. The daily increase in deaths has also decreased for two consecutive days compared to the previous day.
Meanwhile, the cumulative number of recovered patients reached 24,236, pushing the recovery rate above 40%.
Iran has continued to criticize the US sanctions as inhumane obstacles to combating COVID-19. On the 5th, Ali Shamkhani, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, claimed that Iran requested emergency funds from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to respond to COVID-19, but the US is obstructing the disbursement.
On the same day, Shamkhani tweeted, "Sanctions on the import of medicines and hygiene products are illegal measures that violate human rights and a clear sign of Trump's hostility toward Iran. The US also obstructed the IMF from providing funds to Iran to combat COVID-19. This is a crime against humanity." He added, "Trump is more dangerous than the coronavirus pandemic."
Earlier, on the 12th of last month, the Central Bank of Iran requested emergency funds (RFI) of 5 billion dollars (approximately 6.145 trillion KRW) from the IMF, stating the necessity for COVID-19 prevention and treatment. Additionally, letters were sent to the World Bank, Islamic Development Bank, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), and the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) International Development Fund, requesting financial support to combat COVID-19.
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