Iran officials announced on Wednesday that they will temporarily release 54,000 prisoners to combat the spread of the coronavirus. Prisoners must test negative for the virus and post bail before they will be released. However, prisoners sentenced to more than five years of imprisonment will not be released.

Currently, there have been more than 90,000 cases reported worldwide and 3,110 deaths. In Iran, the virus has killed at least 77 people. The World Health Organization sent a team and medical supplies to support efforts on Monday.

This decision follows an announcement by Deputy Health Minister Ali Reza Reisy on Tuesday that 300,000 health workers and specialists would be deployed nationwide.