Iranian doctors warn that 4 million people will become infected and 3.5 million will die if people do not follow the instructions of the Covid-19 room.

"If people do not follow any medical instructions, the disease will bring down Iran's already overcrowded health system. If the health system is crippled, there will be 4 million nCoV and 3.5 infections. million people died, "Dr Afruz Eslami said yesterday on Iranian state television, citing research from the prestigious Sharif University of Technology.

This is the worst of the three predictions made regarding Covid-19 in the country.

According to Eslami, if people cooperate from now on, Iran will witness 120,000 infections and 12,000 deaths before the epidemic ends. If the people co-operate on average, 300,000 people will be infected and 110,000 will die.

Eslami did not detail the data the study used, but her warning was broadcast on Iranian state television showing a major change in the country that officials repeatedly denied the seriousness of Covid-19.

Covid-19 has appeared in 165 countries and territories, causing nearly 200,000 infections and nearly 8,000 deaths. Iran currently records more than 16,000 cases, of which nearly 1,200 have died. At least 12 Iranian officials and former officials have died because of Covid-19, while 13 people were infected and are being quarantined or treated.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei yesterday issued a religious decree banning "unnecessary" travel after the public repeatedly ignored warnings and demands from security forces. The Iranian Ministry of Justice said it would temporarily release about 85,000 prisoners, including political prisoners, to deal with the pandemic.