Iran begins new lockdown as coronavirus deaths reach record levels

world
Iran Begins New Lockdown As Coronavirus Deaths Reach Record Levels
People wait for their turn to receive Covid-19 vaccine at a vaccination centre in Iran Mall shopping centre in Tehran, Iran (Vahid Salemi/AP), © AP/Press Association Images
Share this article

By Associated Press Reporter

Iran has recorded a record high number of deaths from Covid-19 for a second day in a row.

The official Irna news agency said that 655 patients died in the previous 24 hours, and health workers found some 41,194 new cases over the same period.

Advertisement

On Sunday, Iran reported 620 deaths.

The report came as the country imposed a five-day lockdown starting on Monday.

It includes a travel ban on personal cars crossing between provinces.


A health worker prepares a Covid-19 vaccine for a citizen at a vaccination centre in Iran (Vahid Salemi/AP)
A health worker prepares a Covid-19 vaccine for a citizen at a vaccination centre in Iran (Vahid Salemi/AP)

Advertisement

The new surge has been fuelled by the contagious Delta variant.

Iranian authorities say less than 40% of the population follows measures such as wearing face masks and social distancing.

Iranian health officials have regularly warned that hospitals in the capital, Tehran, and other major cities are overwhelmed with Covid-19 patients.

Advertisement

This is the fifth wave of coronavirus infections as the country struggles to vaccinate its people.

Some 4% of Iranians have been fully vaccinated.

Read More

Message submitting... Thank you for waiting.

Want us to email you top stories each lunch time?

Download our Apps
© BreakingNews.ie 2024, developed by Square1 and powered by PublisherPlus.com