Iran's official COVID-19 death toll surpasses 100,000
Iran's Health Ministry has also recorded more than 4 million cases, although experts believe the figure is deceptively low.
Iran’s number of recorded deaths from COVID-19 topped 100,000 on Thursday, the Health Ministry said, as the more infectious Delta variant continues to fuel Iran’s deadliest surge of the virus yet.
The Middle East’s worst-hit country is currently battling what officials say is a fifth wave of the novel coronavirus. State television reports one infected person is dying every two minutes in Iran, and authorities are warning cases could rise amid the Islamic holy month of Muharram, which began on Aug. 9.
On Thursday, the ministry confirmed 31,266 cases and 564 deaths from COVID-19, raising the total since the start of the pandemic to 4,587,683 cases and 100,255 deaths. Health experts, however, say the real death toll is likely much higher than Iranian officials will admit.
Iran has rolled out a number of restrictions aimed at curbing the latest surge, including shuttering all nonessential businesses and government offices until Aug. 21. A countrywide travel ban is in place until Aug. 27.
