TEHRAN: Iran on Friday announced its highest number of new coronavirus infections in nearly two months and warned the Middle East's deadliest outbreak was worsening in some regions.
The government has largely lifted the closures it imposed after Iran's first cases were confirmed in February but has been watching out for any resurgence in the number of infections.
Health ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour said 2,819 new cases were confirmed across the country in the past 24 hours, bringing the overall total to 146,668.
That figure is the highest Iran has announced for a single day since April 2.
New infections have been on a rising trajectory ever since hitting a near two-month low on May 2.
Jahanpour said that the virus had claimed another 50 lives over the same period, raising the overall toll to 7,677.
So far the government has reimposed a lockdown on just one province, Khuzestan on the border with Iraq in the southwest.
The province remains "red" — the highest level on Iran's colour-coded risk scale.
"The provinces of Khorasan Razavi, east and west Azerbaijan, Lorestan, Kurdistan, Kermanshah, Hormozgan and Mazandaran are also in a critical situation," Jahanpour said.
US President launches "climate corps" for green jobs
What April full pink moon means for your zodiac signs?
Donald Trump to appear before court today in hush money trial
South Dakota governor questions timing of the hush money case against Republican candidate
The Republican candidate will appear before court on Monday in the hush money trial
California Highway Patrol is leading the investigation to find out what caused the crash
