Death toll over COVID-19 nears 4,000 in Iran

Iran reported 1,997 new cases and 121 more deaths over COVID-19 on Wednesday, according to Iran Ministry of Health and Medical Education.

The figures brought the total infection cases and deaths in the country to 64,586 and 3,993 respectively, Kianush Jahanpur, head of Public Relations and Information Center of the ministry, said in his daily updates on the state TV.

The Iranian health official put the number of recovered cases at 29,812, adding that 3,956 of the patients are in critical condition.

So far, 220,975 diagnostic laboratory tests for COVID-19 have been carried out in the country, he said.

The spokesman expressed the hope that his country will be able to control the pace of the disease in the following days.

Iran announced the first cases of COVID-19 on Feb. 19. The country of 82 million has the highest number of confirmed cases and death toll in the Middle East region.