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Iran releases 70,000 prisoners due to coronavirus, judiciary chief says

The total number of persons infected with coronavirus in Iran has risen to 7,161 as officials scramble to respond to the spread of the virus.

A member of the medical team wears protective face mask, following the coronavirus outbreak, as he sprays disinfectant liquid to sanitise a taxi car in Tehran, Iran March 05, 2020. WANA (West Asia News Agency)/Nazanin Tabatabaee via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. - RC2MDF9X8TSF
A member of the medical team wears a protective face mask, following the coronavirus outbreak, as he sprays disinfectant liquid to sanitize a taxi car in Tehran, Iran, March 5, 2020. — WANA/Nazanin Tabatabaee via REUTERS

As the number of coronavirus cases steadily climbs in Iran, the country has released roughly 70,000 prisoners in a bid to combat the virus, the country's judiciary chief said Monday. 

“The release of the prisoners, to the point where it doesn’t create insecurity in society … will continue,” said Ebrahim Raisi, according to Mizan, the judiciary's news site.

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