Iran's coronavirus death toll rises 47 to 6,203

TEHRAN (AA) – Iran confirmed 47 more fatalities from coronavirus on Sunday, bringing the nationwide death toll to 6,203, according to the official IRNA news agency.

Health Ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour said 976 new infections were detected over the past 24 hours in the country.

He said 78,422 people out of a total of 97,424 infected with the disease have recovered, while 2,690 cases are in critical condition.

Iran is one of the Mideast countries hardest hit by coronavirus, as first detected in the city of Qom on Feb. 19, and then spread throughout the country.

The government did not impose a total lockdown as seen in many other countries, but did close educational institutions and banned cultural, religious, and sports gatherings.

Authorities, meanwhile, have in phases since April 11 allowed the reopening of businesses closed as part of measures to contain the spread of the virus.

COVID-19 cases have been reported in 187 countries and regions since it emerged in Wuhan, China last December, with the US and Europe the hardest-hit areas.

The pandemic has killed almost 244,000 people, with total infections over 3.4 million, while just over 1 million people have recovered from the disease, according to figures compiled by the US’ Johns Hopkins University.

* Written by Mohamed Sabry