Iran's confirmed COVID-19 cases hit 255,117

Iran, the hardest-hit country by the COVID-19 pandemic in the Middle East region, reports 2,397 new cases, brining the total number of infections to 255,117.

TEHRAN, July 11 (Xinhua) -- Iran reported 2,397 new cases over the past 24 hours, taking the total confirmed novel coronavirus cases to 255,117 on Saturday, according to official IRNA news agency.

Sima Sadat Lari, the spokeswoman for Iran's Ministry of Health and Medical Education, said during her daily update on Saturday that out of the new cases overnight, 1,739 have been hospitalized.

A bus driver wearing a face mask is seen in Tehran, Iran, July 8, 2020. (Xinhua/Ahmad Halabisaz)

Since Friday, 188 people have died from the disease, taking the total fatalities over the virus to 12,653.

So far, 217,666 have recovered and 3,338 remain in critical condition, said Lari.

According to the health spokeswoman, 1,947,114 lab tests for COVID-19 have been carried out in Iran.

The Iranian health official said that 16 provinces are still in high-risk or alert condition over the virus resurgence.

A woman wearing a face mask buys fruit at a bazaar in Tonekabon city, northern Iran, on June 6, 2020. (Xinhua/Ahmad Halabisaz)

Iran announced its first cases of COVID-19 on Feb. 19.

Iran and China have offered mutual help in combating the COVID-19 pandemic.

In mid-February, at the early stage of the coronavirus outbreak in China, Iran lit up the Tehran Azadi (Liberty) Tower to show its solidarity with China, and donated 3 million masks to China.

People wearing face masks walk beside Chitgar Lake in Tehran, Iran, July 5, 2020. (Xinhua/Ahmad Halabisaz)

In return, China has delivered several shipments of medical supplies to Iran. On Feb. 29, a five-member Chinese medical team visited Iran for a month-long mission to help Iran fight the pandemic. Enditem