Iran's coronavirus death toll passes 12,000 as cases surge

The Islamic Republic has been one of the hardest-hit countries in the region

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  Members of Iranian Red Crescent test people with possible coronavirus Covid-19 symptoms, as police blocked Tehran to Alborz highway to check every car following ordered by the Iranian government, outside Tehran. AFP

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  General view of a deserted street, during the intercity ban, amid fear of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Tehran, Iran. REUTERS

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  A member of the Iranian Army works at a temporary hospital in Tehran, Iran. AP Photo

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  Iranian army soldiers work in a temporary 2,000-bed hospital for COVID-19 coronavirus patients set up by the army at the international exhibition center in northern Tehran, Iran. AP Photo

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  People in protective clothing work in a temporary 2,000-bed hospital for COVID-19 coronavirus patients set up by the Iranian army at the international exhibition center in northern Tehran, Iran. AP Photo

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  Firefighters disinfect a square against the new coronavirus as a man takes film, in western Tehran, Iran. AP Photo

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  People in protective clothing walk past rows of beds at a temporary 2,000-bed hospital for COVID-19 coronavirus patients set up by the Iranian army at the international exhibition center in northern Tehran, Iran. AP Photo

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  A police vehicle disinfects streets against the coronavirus, in Tehran, Iran. AP Photo

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  A statue wearing a protective face mask is pictured, amid fear of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Azadi square, in Tehran, Iran. REUTERS

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  A man wearing a protective face mask and gloves, amid fear of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), jumps rope at Valiasr street in Tehran, Iran. REUTERS

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  A traffic police officer wears a protective face mask and gloves, amid fear of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), as he walks in Tehran, Iran. REUTERS

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  A member of Iranian red crescents test passengers of a bus for possible coronavirus Covid-19 symptoms, as police blocked Tehran to Alborz highway to check every car following ordered by Iranian government, outside of Tehran. EPA

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  Members of Iranian Red Crescent get themselves disinfected after testing people for possible coronavirus Covid-19 symptoms, outside of Tehran. EPA

As of Wednesday, more than 12,000 people have died of the novel coronavirus in Iran.

Iran has been one of the hardest-hit countries in the region by the virus even as parliament committees have warned that the true toll of Covid-19 may be much larger given issues with testing in the first few months.

There were 153 deaths from the new coronavirus in the past 24 hours, giving a total of 12,084.

The total number of infections in the country has reached 248,379, with 209,463 people having recovered, Health Ministry spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari said in a statement on state TV.

More than 200 deaths were recorded on Tuesday, a grim record for the Islamic Republic.

As the country has eased lockdown rules, the number of cases per day has increased dramatically.

While the government initially put this down to improvements in testing outside of the capital, they have since warned that the country could see curfews and stay at home orders brought back to stem the rising number of sick.

On Saturday, President Hassan Rouhani said Iranians who do not wear masks will be denied state services and workplaces that fail to comply with health protocols will be shut for a week.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei publicised an image of himself in a mask last week, urging both public officials and the country's 80 million people to wear them to help contain the virus.