Iran: No virus-linked deaths recorded in 12 provinces

Iran on Thursday confirmed 66 more fatalities from coronavirus over the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide death toll to 7,249.

No virus-linked deaths have been recorded in 12 provinces in the past day, while only one patient died of the virus in six provinces each.

A further 2,392 people tested positive for COVID-19, raising the overall count to 129,341, Iran's state broadcaster reported, citing a Health Ministry statement.

The statement added that 100,564 patients have recovered and been discharged from hospitals so far, while 2,655 patients remain in critical condition.

A total of 746,045 tests have been conducted in the country, according to the ministry.

In Iran, one of the countries in the Middle East hardest hit by the disease, COVID-19 was first detected in the city of Qom on Feb. 19 and then spread throughout the country.

More than 5 million cases have been reported in 188 countries and regions since the virus emerged in China last December.

The US, Russia, Brazil, and several European countries are currently the hardest-hit in the world.

The pandemic has claimed over 328,400 lives worldwide, while recoveries have exceeded 1.9 million, according to figures compiled by the US' Johns Hopkins University.