Iran: Death toll from coronavirus rises to 6,854

Iran on Thursday confirmed 71 more fatalities from the coronavirus over the past 24 hours, taking the nationwide death toll to 6,854.

A further 1,808 people tested positive for COVID-19, raising the overall count to 114,533, Iran's state broadcaster reported, citing a Health Ministry statement.

It said 90,539 patients have recovered and been discharged from hospitals so far, while 2,758 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 188 countries and regions.

The global death toll from the novel coronavirus has exceeded 297,400, with more than 4.36 million confirmed cases, according to a running tally by US-based Johns Hopkins University.

The pandemic has killed more than 297,491 people worldwide, with more than 4.36 million confirmed cases. Recoveries have surpassed 1.56 million.