⁍ Iranian President Hassan Rouhani urged people on Saturday to observe health protocols and practice social distancing during upcoming Muslim festivities.

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⁍ This year, Saudi Arabia is to limit the number of domestic pilgrims attending haj to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

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⁍ Iran’s total tally of coronavirus cases hit 288,839 on Saturday, with 15,485 deaths, Health Ministry spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari said on television.

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– An outbreak of the respiratory illness known as coronavirus has killed more than 1,500 people in Iran and authorities are urging people to stay away from a holy city in the country’s northeast, Reuters reports. Deputy Health Minister Iraj Harirchi said Saturday on state television that there has been a 300% increase in cases in Mashad over the last month. The city is home to the Imam Reza shrine, Iran’s largest Shi’ite religious complex, and millions visit it each year to celebrate the Eid al-Adha holiday. Health Ministry spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari said Saturday that there have been 288,839 cases of coronavirus in Iran so far this year, with 15,485 deaths. She said restrictions on visitors to Mashad have been reimposed for a second week. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Saturday that people should wear masks during Eid al-Adha festivities. “Let glorious festivities be held in mosques and religious centers by observing health protocols and social distancing,” he said. “Let [face] masks this year be part of the glorious mourning of Muharram, the 10th day of the lunar month of Muharram, when according to Islamic tradition Imam Hussein was killed in battle in 680.”