Security forces warn Shiite Pilgrims marching too the shrine of Imam Moussa al-Kadhim, a key Shiite saint, during preparations for the annual commemoration of his death, in Baghdad, Iraq Friday, March 20, 2020. Iraq announced a weeklong curfew to help fight the spread of the virus. For most people, the virus causes only mild or moderate symptoms. For some it can cause more severe illness. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)
March 20, 2020
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March 20, 2020 4:36 p.m.
Iran's leaders take upbeat tone even as virus deaths climb
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran's leaders vowed to overcome the coronavirus outbreak in upbeat messages marking the Persian New Year on Friday, even as the Health Ministry announced 149 more fatalities, bringing the country's death toll to 1,433.