Death toll over COVID-19 climbs to 1,284 in Iran

Iran's Ministry of Health and Medical Education on Thursday announced the death of 1,284 people out of a total of 18,407 novel coronavirus cases, according to official IRNA news agency.

Meanwhile, 5,979 people have been recovered, Alireza Raisi, deputy minister of health ministry, was quoted as saying by IRNA.

Earlier in the day, Kianush Jahanpur, head of Public Relations and Information Center of Iran's health ministry, said that "based on the latest data available, 50 Iranians are being infected with the COVID-19 every hour."

"Also, in every 10 minutes, an Iranian dies out of the disease,"Jahanpur tweeted.

Iran is among the countries which have been severely hit by the outbreak of novel coronavirus. China sent a five-member expert team on Feb. 29 to Tehran to help control and prevent the spread of the virus.