The coronavirus daily mortality rate in Iran hit 200, the highest figure since the onset of the outbreak in late February. According to the latest statistics released by Health Ministry Spokeswoman Sima Sadat-Lari, the new rate pushed the total number of deaths close to the 12,000 mark.

The new record was announced as nine provinces remained "red spots" and nine others exhibited signs of an alarming status. While the official figure for the total confirmed cases stood below 246,000, a member of the National Committee to Combat Coronavirus said up to 18 million Iranians — around 20% of the entire population — are estimated to have already contracted the virus.

Against a relative respite from the outbreak in the past few weeks, the capital city of Tehran appeared to be witnessing a rapid resurgence. Head of the Tehran City Council Mohsen Hashemi told reporters the number of coronavirus victims buried in the city’s main cemetery had more than tripled on July 6. Those alarming figures have now prompted calls for a reimposition of strict measures that were lifted to help reopen the mega city's economy.

The spike in new infections is also overstretching the leading medical centers. “Worrisome pictures” have gone viral showing the parking lot in one of those hospitals where new patients have to receive treatment until beds become available in the main wards. Similar reports of overwhelmed hospitals came from hard-hit and underdeveloped areas, including Kurdistan and Khuzestan provinces, while age groups between 20 and 40 are increasingly falling victim to the virus.