Iran health workers use dance to cope with coronavirus crisis

Tehran announced that 92 people have been killed with 2,922 confirmed cases across the country

Iranian medical personnel, wearing protective gear, work at a ward of a hospital in Tehran on March 1, 2020. AFP

Iranian health workers are using music as a coping mechanism to deal with the outbreak of coronavirus, as the epidemic spreads rapidly across the country.

Videos have been circulating on social media for the past few days have shown healthcare workers, nurses and doctors, dancing and singing in a hospital environment.

In what appears to be a dance challenge, the health workers are seen wearing protective suits, facemasks, gloves and googles.

They are showing off their moves in an attempt to boost the morale of medical teams and people infected with the virus.

Many users have sent positive responses thanking the medical personnel and wishing them good health.

Another video showed an Iranian nurse clapping with patients in an attempt to lift their spirits.

Iran is one of the main coronavirus hotspots outside of mainland China, where the epidemic started.

On Wednesday authorities said the death toll had risen to 92, as 586 new cases were reported overnight, bringing the total upto 2,922, according to state news media.

The country suspended Friday prayers across all provincial capitals in a bid to curb the spread of the virus.

The ban, announced on Wednesday, is seen as significant because of the political and spiritual role that Friday prayers play for Iran's clerical regime.

A number of high ranking officials have been infected by the virus in a way that is not seen elsewhere.

Among those are Vice President Masoumeh Ebtekar, who is better known as “Mary,” the English-speaking spokeswoman for students who seized the US Embassy in Tehran in 1979 and sparked the 444-day hostage crisis.

The country’s deputy health minister, Iraj Harirchi, tested positive for the virus last week, a day after he was seen on state television coughing and sweating as Tehran claimed the outbreak is under control.

In total, 23 members of parliament are infected.

On Monday, a member of Iran’s advisory council, Mohammad Mirmohammadi, died after being diagnosed.

Hadi Khosroshahi, 81, a prominent cleric and former ambassador to the Vatican, also died last Thursday from the infection.