Iran cancels Friday prayers in major cities as coronavirus kills 92

Friday prayers in Iran have been canceled across all provincial capitals amid the country's growing coronavirus outbreak, state television said. Iran says the new coronavirus has killed 92 people amid 2,922 confirmed cases across the Islamic Republic.

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Friday is the main congregational day of prayer in Islam, and traditionally an important event for Iran's clerical rulers.

The report Wednesday comes as Tehran and other areas canceled Friday prayers last week over the outbreak.

Iranians wear protective masks in the capital Tehran on Tuesday. Atta Kenare/AFP

Iran earlier announced that the new coronavirus has killed 92 people amid 2,922 confirmed cases across the Islamic Republic, the highest death toll in the world outside of China.

Health Ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour announced the new figures at a news conference in Tehran, raising Iran's death toll from the new illness to higher than Italy's, where there has also been a serious spike in infections.

There are now over 3,140 cases of the new virus across the Mideast. Of those outside Iran in the region, most link back to the Islamic Republic.

The virus has sickened top leaders inside Iran's civilian government and Shiite theocracy. Iran stands alone in how the virus has affected its government, even compared to hard-hit China, the epicenter of the outbreak. Worldwide, the virus has infected more than 90,000 people and caused over 3,100 deaths.

Experts worry Iran may be underreporting the number of cases it has.

"The virus has no wings to fly,” Jahanpour said. "We are the ones who transfer it to each other.”

Associated Press