Iran announced on Thursday its death toll from coronavirus had risen to 26.<br />According to Reuters, it's by far the highest number outside China.<br />The total number of infected people in Iran now stands at 245, including several senior officials.<br />The outbreak prompted authorities to call off Friday prayers in the capitals of 23 of Iran’s 31 provinces.<br />Closed mosques included those in Tehran and the Shi’ite Muslim holy cities of Qom and Mashhad as well as some other infected areas.
