Iran reports first omicron variant deaths

Iran’s health ministry has reported its first deaths from the omicron coronavirus variant. The three deaths were announced on Saturday. There have been more than 132,000 deaths from the coronavirus in Iran in five waves since the start of the pandemic. More than 53 million of Iran’s population of about 85 million have received two vaccine doses, and 12.2 million have received three doses of a vaccine. Iran lifted some travel restrictions put in place to reduce the spread of the virus beginning this week.