Iran's death toll from coronavirus nears 6,800

Iran confirmed more 50 fatalities from coronavirus over the past 24 hours, taking the nationwide death toll to 6,783, according to the country's Health Ministry.

A further 1,958 people tested positive for COVID-19, raising the overall count to 112,725, Iran's state broadcaster reported, citing a ministry statement.

It said 89,428 patients have recovered and been discharged from hospitals so far, while 2,735 patients remain in critical condition.

In Iran, one of the Middle Eastern countries hardest hit by the pandemic, the COVID-19 virus was first detected in the city of Qom on Feb. 19 and then spread throughout the country.

Since the virus emerged in Wuhan, China last December, it has spread to 187 countries and regions.

The global death toll from the novel coronavirus has exceeded 291,800, with more than 4.25 million confirmed cases, according to a running tally by US-based Johns Hopkins University.

Additionally, more than 1.49 million people worldwide have recovered from COVID-19.