Iran has identified 13,421 new coronavirus infections in the past 24 hours, a new daily record, the health ministry said on Wednesday, bringing the country's overall tally to 801,894.
Ministry spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari told state TV that the death toll had risen by 480 to 42,941 in the Middle East's worst-affected country.
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The news comes a day after Iranian Health Minister Saeed Namaki warned the nation on Tuesday that COVID deaths might more than double soon if Iranians flouted rules aimed at containing the virus.
"This is the last chance for our health system to recover, if people fall short we will lose the game and reach four-digit death figures ... and that is an abyss from which it is difficult to escape," Namaki said ahead of nationwide restrictions to curb the virus' spread, state media reported.
The government said stricter restrictions would be imposed in the capital Tehran and some 100 other cities and towns starting Nov. 21. Non-essential businesses and services will be shut or seriously reduced and cars will not be allowed to leave or enter those cities.
Police said a ban on cars leaving or entering provincial capitals would go into effect on Wednesday, state television reported.
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