Indian medical team to reach Iran, hope to set up 1st clinic today: Jaishankar

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar informed that an Indian medical team will today reach Iran, where novel coronavirus has claimed at least 92 lives so far. He said that the team hoped to set up the first clinic today itself in Qom, the epicentre of Iran's coronavirus outbreak.

New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday said an Indian medical team will reach Iran during the day and the authorities here are working on the logistics with their Iranian counterparts for the return of the Indians stranded there in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak in the country.

Jaishankar said the Indian medical team was likely to set up its first clinic at Qom by the evening to start screening for coronavirus.

• Group of Ministers constantly monitoring progress. Understand the concern of families.
  Keep faith.

  — Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) March 5, 2020 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="

  Group of Ministers constantly monitoring progress. Understand the concern of families.
  Keep faith.

  — Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) March 5, 2020

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  Group of Ministers constantly monitoring progress. Understand the concern of families.
  Keep faith.

  — Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) March 5, 2020

"Update for Indians stranded in #Iran and for their families: Our medical team for screening arrives in Iran today. Hope to establish first clinic at Qom by this evening. Screening process will start immediately thereafter. Working on logistics of return with Iranian authorities," the minister said in a tweet.

"Group of Ministers constantly monitoring progress. Understand the concern of families. Keep faith," he said in another tweet.

Read: Took action on COVID-19 before WHO advisory: Health Minister in RS

An estimated 1,200 Indians, mostly students and pilgrims, are in Iran currently.

As on Wednesday, Iran had reported 15 new deaths from COVID-19 and 586 additional cases, bringing the overall toll to 92 dead and 2,922 infected.

Global coronavirus cases (As of March 4)

Despite the preventive measures, the novel coronavirus is now present in all but one of Iran's 31 provinces, according to the latest figures.

The provinces of Tehran and Qom were the worst-hit with 253 and 101 new cases of COVID-19 respectively. The Shiite holy city of Qom, south of Tehran, is the epicentre of Iran's coronavirus outbreak and where its first deaths were reported on February 19.

(With inputs from PTI and IANS)