Iran sees new daily record of coronavirus cases

Iranian women wear protective face shields and masks as they walk in Tehran Bazaar, yesterday.

Iran yesterday announced a new record number of daily coronavirus cases, as authorities warned of a “major increase” in infections to come as the country faces its fourth wave. Over the past 24 hours, the Islamic republic officially recorded 17,430 cases of infection, health ministry spokesperson Sima Sadat Lari said. The figure eclipses a previous peak in late November of 14,051 daily cases, and brings Iran’s total number of cases to 1,963,394. Iran also recorded 174 additional virus deaths, Lari said, bringing the total to 63,506. Lari warned the population of a “major increase in infections” to come.