Financial means used to fight virus

TEHERAN－Iran, one of the countries badly hit by the novel coronavirus outbreak, is seeking a $5 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund as it battles the virus amid tightening US sanctions over its nuclear program.

Its loan request comes as other countries affected by the virus, like South Korea and Japan, are gearing up to financially help their countries deal with the crisis.

An IMF spokesman said on condition of anonymity on Wednesday that the organization is considering the loan request lodged by the Central Bank of Iran to fight the pandemic, according to Iran's official news provider IRNA.

Meanwhile, Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Tuesday called for a global campaign to disregard the US anti-Iran sanctions.

Zarif said the sanctions had "drained Iran's economic resources" and impaired Iran's ability to fight COVID-19. "They (the sanctions) literally kill innocents."

The sanctions, reimposed after Washington's exit from the international pact on Iran's nuclear program in May 2018, have been hindering Iran's fight against the coronavirus, due to the shortage of medical supplies.

As of Wednesday, Iran reported a total of 17,167 cases, with 1,192 newly detected ones, the health ministry said. The death toll rose to 1,135 by 147.

In South Korea, the Seoul metropolitan government said on Wednesday it planned to spend around $264.7 million, to help residents cope with the virus.

Under the plan, the city will give up to 500,000 won ($400), which will be distributed via mobile gift certificates or cash cards, to households whose income is below the median income but are not eligible for separate funds that will be provided from the extra budget bill passed late Tuesday.

In a related development, there was another cluster transmission at a nursing hospital in the southeastern city of Daegu which infected 70 people. The facility was immediately put into cohort isolation, city government officials said on Wednesday.

The country on Wednesday recorded 93 new cases, taking its total to 8,413.

Bold steps

In Japan, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is reported to have formed a panel of key ministers and the central bank governor on Thursday to prepare a package to help the economy weather the hit from the virus.

The panel will lay the groundwork for a stimulus package due to be launched in April, which Abe has said would include "bold and unprecedented" steps.

"In terms of what's happening in the economy, it may be something similar to what we saw during the Lehman crisis (in 2008)," Finance Minister Taro Aso said on Wednesday.

In Africa, the World Bank has committed $60 million to help Kenya respond to the deadly virus, which will be used to enhance surveillance, laboratory services, isolation units, equipment, supplies, and communication. The country has reported seven infections.

In South Africa where 116 cases have been reported, national ports operator Transnet National Ports Authority, or TNPA, said the country is holding the cruise liner MV Aid Amira and a cargo vessel off Cape Town after a crew member showed symptoms of the coronavirus.

TNPA said that the passengers would be quarantined on board and a decision would be made based on test results.

Edith Mutethya and Otiato Opali in Nairobi and agencies contributed to this story.