Iran: Record 229 deaths from coronavirus in past 24 hours

Citizens wearing masks are seen at a subway after wearing face mask become mandatory in public transports like metro and busses within the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic precautions in Tehran, Iran June 15, 2020. [Fatemeh Bahrami – Anadolu Agency]

Iran has seen a record 229 deaths in the past 24 hours from its outbreak of the novel coronavirus, Reuters reported Health Ministry figures showing today.

Iran, the Middle East country hardest hit by the pandemic, began relaxing its lockdown in mid-April. It has recorded a total of 14,634 deaths from the coronavirus, Health Ministry spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari said on state TV, adding that the country has seen 278,827 infections and 242,351 recoveries.

The previous record of deaths from the new coronavirus in a 24 hour period was on 9 July, when Health Ministry figures showed 221 people had died.

Hospitals in Iran face acute shortages of medical personnel and beds as the country tackles a powerful second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, a senior official with Tehran’s anti-coronavirus task force, Reza Jalili-Khoshnood, said last week.

His comments contrasted with President Hassan Rouhani’s regular assurances that Iran has sufficient supplies of medical personnel and facilities.

READ: Iranian health officials play down president’s figure of 25 million people infected

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