Iran sees "difficult week" ahead as corona death toll rises to 34

Iranian women wear protective masks to prevent contracting coronavirus, as they walk in the street in Tehran, Iran February 25, 2020. WANA (West Asia News Agency)/Nazanin Tabatabaee via REUTERS

DUBAI (Reuters) - Iran on Friday announced a three-day nationwide school closure as officials warned the country faced a "difficult week" in fighting a coronavirus outbreak that has killed 34 people.

The Islamic Republic had already cancelled Friday prayers in the capitals of 23 of its 31 provinces because of the outbreak, including in Tehran and the Shi'ite Muslim holy cities of Qom and Mashhad.