Iran’s death toll surges in 3rd Covid wave

Tehran, Oct 14 (efe-epa).- Iran registered a record number of daily Covid-19 deaths on Wednesday as the country struggled to contain a third wave of contagion that has once again saturated its hospitals.

Authorities have imposed fresh restrictions on movement in five Iranian cities as the health ministry confirmed 279 people had died from coronavirus in the last 24 hours.

The ministry logged another 4,830 infections in the same time frame, the highest figures since the first wave of the pandemic back in February.

More than 29,000 people have died in Iran since the pandemic began, according to official data.

Health minister Saeed Namaki said: “The new wave of coronavirus has extended to different parts of the country.”

The virus has mutated compared to previous waves and was more contagious, he said.

New measures rolled out by the government include travel restrictions around five cities where the rate of infection is particularly high: Tehran, Karaj, Mashad, Isfahan and Urmia. 

Namaki said the restrictions will be in place for at least three days to prevent residents from leaving for the weekend which is a national holiday.

Iranian officials have made face masks obligatory in public in Tehran amid rising cases in the capital.

The rule is expected to be extended to other badly-affected regions.