Tasnim � Iran�s Minister of Health Saeed Namaki called on medical research and technology teams in his ministry to undertake research into the novel coronavirus that has infected all provinces of the country.

Namaki on Monday sent a letter to the Health Ministry�s department of research and technology, urging that the research teams in all medical universities across the country should carry out medical research on COVID-19.

The minister asked the academic research teams to focus on various issues relating to the novel coronavirus, such as the contagion rate, demographic factors, efficiency of medication therapy, detection of the main sources of infection, treatment strategies, the behavior of COVID-19 and possible mutation of the virus, and effects of social behavior on the spread of the disease.

Namaki said the results of such research programs will help the medical society adopt and revise the practical plans in the fight against the new coronavirus.

The Health Ministry announced on Monday that the number of people who have died from the coronavirus in Iran has risen to 237 and the total number of confirmed cases to 7,161. At least 2,394 people have recovered from the disease in the country so far.