Iran reports record of more than 500 deaths from coronavirus in 24 hours

The country, the most affected in the Middle East, recorded 542 deaths and 39,619 new cases in 24 hours, bringing the total number of fatalities to 94,015, out of a total of 4,158,729 infected, according to official figures.

On Wednesday, Iran it exceeded the symbolic threshold of four million infections, while the number of daily infections also broke a new record for the third day in a row.

The precedent record for deaths was recorded on April 26, with 496 deaths.

However, the authorities themselves point out that official statistics are underestimated.

Since late June, Iran has struggled to contain what the government describes as a “fifth wave” of the disease, spread by the more contagious delta variant.

“Although the rate of vaccination is accelerating, respect for health protocols has dropped significantly”, State television indicated, highlighting that hospitals “are going through a crisis.”

The vaccination campaign that began in early February is not progressing as fast as the authorities wish.

Suffocated by US sanctions, the Islamic Republic says it is having serious difficulties transferring funds abroad to buy vaccines.

More than 12.5 million people received the first dose, while only 3.7 million received the two necessary injections, the Health Ministry said on Wednesday. Iran has a population of about 83 million people.