Iran reports 1,433 deaths from COVID-19

People wearing face masks go shopping at a bazaar in Tehran, Iran, March 19, 2020, ahead of Nowruz or the Iranian New Year. (Photo by Ahmad Halabisaz/Xinhua)

Iran's Ministry of Health and Medical Education said on Friday that 1,433 people have died of COVID-19 in the country, official IRNA news agency reported.

In addition, 19,644 people have been infected with the novel coronavirus as of Friday and 6,745 have recovered, according to Alireza Raisi, deputy health minister.

Iran is among the hardest-hit countries by the outbreak of the novel coronavirus.

China sent a five-member expert team on Feb. 29 to Tehran to help control and prevent the spread of the virus.