Iran's coronavirus death toll at 6,640, cases exceed 108,000

The coronavirus death toll in Iran rose to 6,640 with 51 more fatalities over the past 24 hours, state media reported on Sunday.

A further of 1,383 people tested positive for COVID-19 over the past day, raising the overall count to 107,603, Iran's state broadcaster reported, citing a statement by the Health Ministry.

It said 83,143 patients have recovered and been discharged from hospitals so far, while 2,675 patients remain in critical condition.

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

"The situation should in no way be considered normal" in Iran, health ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour said in televised remarks.

"This virus will be present" for the time being, he added, in the country that has suffered the most deadly outbreak in the Middle East.

The new fatalities raised the overall confirmed death toll to 6,640 since the country reported its first cases in February 19.

Iran has allowed a phased return to work since April 11 and has since also reopened mosques in parts of the country deemed to be at low risk.

But Jahanpour said Iran was "witnessing a critical situation in Khuzestan province and to an extent in Tehran".

Both the capital Tehran and Khuzestan remained at "red", the top level of its colour-coded risk scale.

In the capital, a member of the virus taskforce warned that current health protocols could not contain the spread of the illness in Tehran.

"With businesses reopening, people have forgotten about the protocols," Ali Maher told ISNA news agency.

"Maybe it was too soon" for a return to normal life, Maher said.

The situation is Khuzestan meanwhile quashed hopes that the virus would die in warmer climates.

Khuzestan's governor Ali Shariati said that state bodies, banks and non-essential businesses in nine counties would be shut down again and inter-city movements limited.

This aimed to "prevent the coronavirus' spread from getting out of hand" and would remain in force until further notice, state news agency IRNA quoted him as saying.

President Hassan Rouhani meanwhile said in a televised meeting that schools would partially reopen next Saturday.

This applied only "for students seeking to meet and talk to their teachers" and attendance would not be mandatory, he said.

Cinemas, stadiums and universities remain closed across Iran.

Experts and officials both in Iran and abroad have cast doubt over the country's COVID-19 figures, saying the actual number of cases could be much higher.

After originating in China last December, COVID-19 has spread to at least 187 countries and regions. Europe and the US are currently the worst-hit regions.

The pandemic has killed over 279,000 worldwide with more than 4.04 million total infections, while recoveries surpassed 1.38 million, according to figures compiled by the US' Johns Hopkins University.