Iran has temporarily released more than 54,000 prisoners in an effort to combat the spread of the new coronavirus disease in crowded jails.
The inmates were granted temporary release after testing negative for Covid-19 and posting bail.
The World Health Organization has also warned that protective gear such as masks and goggles used by health workers fighting coronavirus are running out.
The WHO says “supplies are rapidly depleting" and that disruption to supplies had been caused by rising demand and misuse.
It says manufacturers need to increase personal protective gear supplies by 40% to meet the needs of the medical community.
The World Health Organisation estimates that, per month, 89m medical masks will be required for the COVID-19 response, as well as 76m examination gloves and 1.6m goggles.
About 3,000 people have died from COVID-19 and there are close to 90,000 confirmed infections worldwide.
There are no confirmed cases in Fiji
[Source: BBC]
