Iran: Death toll from coronavirus surpasses 26,100

TEHRAN

At least 183 additional fatalities from the coronavirus pandemic have raised the death toll in Iran to 26,169, the country's Health Ministry said on Wednesday.

Some 3,582 more people tested positive for COVID-19 over the past 24 hours, pushing the overall count up to 457,219, ministry spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari said.

She added that 380,956 patients have recovered so far, while 4,093 are hospitalized in critical condition.

Lari warned that 30 of Iran’s 31 provinces are in the red zone with high risk of coronavirus.

Iran is struggling to contain the pandemic since February when the first cases were confirmed in the city of Qom.

In recent weeks, Iran saw a significant surge in new infections and fatalities after restrictions were eased, drawing criticism from health activists.

Health Minister Saeed Namaki has earlier warned that Iran was in the grip of a third wave after managing to overcome the first two waves.

*Writing by Zehra Nur Duz from Ankara