TEHRAN, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Health Ministry on Friday announced 144 new deaths from the novel coronavirus, raising the death toll to 2,378 across the country, official IRNA news agency reported.
Kianush Jahanpur, head of Public Relations and Information Center of Ministry of Health and Medical Education, said 2,926 new cases have been registered in the past 24 hours and a total of 32,332 people confirmed to be infected with the virus.
Of all the reported cases, 11,133 have recovered, he added.
On Friday, Iran started the implementation of a social distancing plan for one week and said that it could be extended if the authorities deem it necessary.
The plan includes further restrictions of the inter-city travels, the closure of public places like parks, swimming pools and entertaining centers, a ban on gatherings and reducing work hours of civil servants.
