The Iranian Army on Wednesday opened a makeshift medical center with 2,000 beds at a large fairground in Tehran, used as a hospital and a convalescent home for coronavirus patients.
The Army Ground Force set up the big medical center within only two days.
The temporary hospital and convalescent home was unveiled by top military commanders and Deputy Health Minister Iraj Harirchi, who has recovered from the coronavirus infection.
Established at the Tehran International Exhibition Permanent Fairground, the makeshift hospital can accommodate an additional 1,000 beds.
The General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces ordered the Army Ground Force on Monday to prepare the hospital for the treatment of coronavirus patients.
The Armed Forces have been assisting the Health Ministry in the battle with COVID-19 since the early days of outbreak of the disease in Iran.
In a countrywide war game exercising defense tactics in the face of a biological attack, the Army Ground Force has been disinfecting public places and has also set up 420 control and screen posts in the neighborhoods of big cities.
On March 12, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei cited clues to a possible “biological attack” on Iran in the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, ordering the Armed Forces to set up a “health and medical base” to organize the efforts to prevent the spread of the disease.
The Leader assigned the Armed Forces to work on the necessary methods to prevent a further spread of coronavirus, in addition to the other activities such as treatment of patients and establishment of medical centers like field hospitals and convalescent homes.