Coronavirus: Indian Medical Team To Land In Iran Soon To Help Stranded Indians, Says MEA Jaishankar

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

Pakistan does not deny sending terrorists to India, said S Jaishankar. (File Photo/ Getty)

New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday said that an Indian medical team will reach Iran during the day to provide medical aid and check-up of those Indian nationals who are stranded there. He said that the authorities in India 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. "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.

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.

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

The number of people infected with coronavirus in India has increased to 29. Tight screening arrangements have been made everywhere from the airport to the ports. In Delhi, parents are sending children to school with hand sanitizers and masks. Coronavirus has killed 92 people in Iran, officials said on Wednesday, as the world's deadliest outbreak outside China spread to all but one of the country's provinces. Iran's President Hassan Rouhani meanwhile dismissed a US offer to help it fight the novel coronavirus outbreak, charging that Washington hides behind a "mask of sympathy" while sanctions are depriving the country of medicine. The Islamic republic reported 15 new deaths from COVID-19 and 586 additional cases, bringing the overall toll to 92 dead and 2,922 infected.