Iran Reports Yet Another Bad Day on Pandemic Front

Iran on Sunday reported its worst daily death toll in the coronavirus pandemic, with 251 patients having died in the previous 24 hours, breaking the record of 239 set just last week. The outbreak has now killed a total of 28,544 people in the Islamic Republic, which is considered the epicenter for the pandemic in the Middle East. Sunday also saw the total number of infections in Iran surpass half a million since authorities announced the first two cases – and deaths – on February 19, with 3,822 new diagnoses since Saturday. Among those currently infected are Vice President Ali Akbar Salehi, who also serves as head of the country’s atomic energy agency, and Vice President Mohammad Bagher Nobakht, who is responsible for national planning and budgets. Iran has seen many of its top officials come down with COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, with several having died.