Coronavirus: Iran’s deaths at least 210, hospital sources say

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-51673053

Iran is the only country in the Gulf region that has reported deaths from Covid-19

At least 210 people in Iran have died as a result of the new coronavirus disease, sources in the country’s health system have told BBC Persian.

Most of the victims are from the capital, Tehran, and the city of Qom, where cases of Covid-19 first emerged.

The figure is six times higher than the official death toll of 34 given by the health ministry earlier on Friday.

Ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour insisted it was being transparent and accused the BBC of spreading lies.

It comes after a member of parliament for Qom accused the authorities of a cover-up and the US expressed concern that they may not be sharing information.

Growing lack of confidence in authorities

There are fears in Iran that the government, unsure of how to handle the outbreak, is covering up the extent of the spread of the new coronavirus disease.

Now, a tally of figures reported by BBC Persian’s sources in several hospitals suggests at least 210 people had died across the country as of Thursday night.

The highest number of deaths were said to be in Tehran, where a disproportionately high number of officials have reportedly tested positive for Covid-19, including a vice-president, a deputy minister, and at least two MPs.

Friday prayers in Tehran and 22 other cities were cancelled, and schools and universities closed.

Thousands of Iranians have also been stranded inside and outside the country as many flights have been stopped to and from Iran.

There have been more than 83,000 reported cases of Covid-19 worldwide and 2,800 deaths since the disease emerged late last year – the vast majority in China.

At midday on Friday, the Iranian health ministry reported eight new deaths related to Covid-19, increasing the official toll to 34.

It also said 143 new cases had been detected, bringing the total to 388.

tonyde

Logo will be released just before draft …New uniforms early to mid May

Announced at the Rams Combine event at Cal Lutheran today…

Billy_T wrote:

ZN,

I responded to WV’s Van Gogh thread, to no avail. I think the spam blocker got me for adding links to his letters and museum.

Um, just in case: That would be Van Gogh’s letters and museum. WV probably has those as well, but I didn’t ask Alexa about them yet.

Sorry BT, a day with me long absent. I did fix it though.

Jeremy Fowler@JFowlerESPN
Multiple sources from the combine say Panthers CB James Bradberry, one of the top corners on the market, is aiming for $15 or more million per year on a new deal.

Cameron DaSilva@camdasilva
Then Jalen Ramsey is going to sign and blow the whole thing up

I’m thinking at least $17M per year, but likely higher after these guys sign

Jalen Ramsey isn’t in any rush to sign. He’ll wait for the market to climb again in free agency

Andrew Brandt@AndrewBrandt
The easy narrative about the NFL CBA is that the stars are against it and the rank and file is for it. That stereotype is not true; we can give players more credit than that.

Kurt Warner is the best realistic option for ESPN after losing out on Tony Romo, writes TBL's @sportsrapport. https://t.co/w5HGc1T4pg

— The Big Lead (@thebiglead) February 29, 2020

Having a full-time offensive coordinator again will benefit the Rams in 2020, based on LaFleur’s experience

Stu Jackson

https://www.therams.com/news/having-a-full-time-offensive-coordinator-again-will-benefit-rams

INDIANAPOLIS – Packers head coach Matt LaFleur knows what it’s like to be a full-time offensive coordinator under Rams head coach Sean McVay, having done so in McVay’s first season in Los Angeles.

The Rams will have someone in that very role for the first time in three years after hiring former Redskins offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell this winter. Returning to that arrangement stands to benefit Los Angeles this upcoming season.

“Number one, it freed him up so he didn’t have to do everything in terms of all our install or all the film review within, whether it’s just with our players. It freed him up to do head coaching duties as well,” LaFleur told theRams.com at the NFL Scouting Combine, when asked about the impact of that partnership. “So I think it was more or less just always being on the same page and and somebody that could relay that message, not only to the other coaches, but to the players.”

McVay and LaFleur worked together under then-Washington Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan for four seasons from 2010-2013. When they reunited in 2017, LaFleur helped guide Los Angeles to top-10 regular season finishes in total yards (361.5 per game, 10th), passing yards (239.4, 10th) and rushing yards (122.1, eighth). L.A won their first NFC West divisional title since 2003 and reached the postseason for the first time since 2004, then LaFleur was hired by the Titans to be their offensive coordinator for the 2018 season.

“Sean and I had a rapport going back to Washington where we worked together, and so we were kind of trained the same way and grew up at the same time in this profession,” LaFleur said. “So we were always on the same page, and he could always bounce stuff off me and I knew where it was coming from. And I think that just to help get everybody on the same page.”

While O’Connell and McVay’s time in Washington did not overlap, both worked under former Redskins head coach Jay Gruden – O’Connell during Gruden’s last three seasons and McVay during his first three. O’Connell joined Gruden’s staff in Washington in 2017 – the year McVay left to join Los Angeles – starting out as quarterbacks coach in 2017 before eventually moving up to offensive coordinator in 2019.

Consequently, there’s a good chance O’Connell will be able to sync with McVay similar to the way LaFleur did having worked under the same head coach.

“At the end of the day, it’s just being an extension of him. It takes a lot to do that,” O’Connell said when he was officially introduced earlier this month. “The experience and the success that this offense has had, you really want the players to look at you as an extension of the head coach.”

McVay hopes to replicate the regular season success of 2017 – with one exception.

“He’s not leaving after a year hopefully, all right,” McVay said at that introductory press conference, laughing.

Welcome to Rams Revealed, a weekly podcast hosted by Voice of the Rams J.B. Long, featuring a different Rams player each episode. Subscribe to get an exclusive look inside the team.

Ep. 25: Rams OC Kevin O’Connell on bringing a fresh perspective

===