Iran said its novel coronavirus infections surpassed 1 million cases on Thursday, as the authorities consider easing restrictions in many parts of the Middle East's hardest-hit country.
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter
According to French news agency AFP, the Islamic republic has recorded 1,003,494 COVID-19 infections since announcing its first cases in February, Health Ministry spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari said on state television.
The virus has killed 49,348 people in Iran over the same period of time, according to official figures, contested by both international observers and certain Iranian officials, including Health Minister Saeed Namaki, who say the real toll is likely much higher.
In the past 24 hours the virus caused 358 new deaths in the country with a population of more than 80 million, and 13,922 new cases of infection, Lari said.
The number of fatalities, however, appears to have slightly eased in past days after soaring to a daily average of more than 400 for much of November.
Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!
Despite not imposing lockdowns, non-essential businesses were closed for two weeks in areas at the highest risk on Nov. 21, reinforcing restrictions President Hassan Rouhani said were needed to curb a "third wave" of the outbreak.
The measures apply to the vast majority of cities across Iran, including Tehran and the country's 30 other provincial capitals.
i24NEWS contributed to this report.
