Iran should draw up economic plans based on a worst-case scenario of nearly a year of disruptions due to the coronavirus, President Hassan Rouhani has said, as the death toll from the disease rose by 76 to 5,650, Reuters reported.

“Our first request is that we should plan production long-term based on a pessimistic view that we might face this virus ... for months,” Rouhani said in a meeting with heads of Iranian private companies carried live on state TV.

“Maybe [we will face this] till the end of the year, we do not know,” Rouhani added, referring to the Iranian calendar year which ends in March 2021.

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