Iran reports 158 more virus deaths

The Iranian Health Ministry has reported 158 new deaths from COVID-19 over the past 24 hours, raising the total death toll since the beginning of the outbreak to 3,452, state TV reported.

Kianoush Jahanpour, a spokesman and official of the ministry, also added in a live broadcast that 2,560 more patients have tested positive for the virus, bringing the total nationwide number of infections to 55,743.

Iran is battling the most severe coronavirus outbreak in the Middle East.

For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough.

But for others, especially older adults and people with health problems, it can cause severe symptoms like pneumonia and lead to death.