Iran’s daily COVID-19 deaths hit record of 459

Ministry spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari told state TV that the total number of confirmed coronavirus cases increased by 9,236 to 682,486.

On Saturday, new cases of COVID-19 infections in Iran for the first time surpassed 9,000. 

Lari also said on Sunday that more than 520,000 patients have recovered from the coronavirus infection so far or have been discharged from hospitals across the country.

Among those undergoing treatment in medical centers at present, 5,523 patients are in critical condition, Lari noted.

She added that more than 5,224,000 coronavirus diagnostic tests have been carried out in Iran so far.

The number of infections and deaths has kept rising and hit several new highs since September, prompting officials to announce new restrictions.

On Saturday, President Hassan Rouhani outlined a new list of measures during a meeting of the National Headquarters for Managing and Fighting the Coronavirus.

Speaking in a televised speech, Rouhani said under the new measures nonessential businesses such as malls, small retailers, cinemas and gyms would close from 6 pm for a month, starting Tuesday.

This would apply to the capital Tehran, provincial capitals and “cities with high populations,” he added.

The rising toll has brought a number of health experts and officials to call for a lockdown in the capital as a minimum measure.

Iran has not imposed a full lockdown since it was hit by COVID-19 in February, with Rouhani arguing the country's sanctions-hit economy cannot afford to be shut down for an extended period.

Iran Daily