Publish Date: 18 April 2021 - 14:33

TEHRAN, Apr. 17 (MNA) – The total number of people infected with the coronavirus in Iran during the last 24 hours has reached 21,644 as some 405 more Iranians have died from the disease, the Health Ministry said.

Health Ministry spokeswoman Sima Lari said during the daily COVID-19 briefing on Sunday that with the 405 new victims, the country's total COVID-19 deaths mounted to 66,732.

Over the last 24 hours, 21,644 new cases of COVID-19 infection have been discovered, with 3,092 of them being hospitalized, she said.

1,785,385 patients have recovered or been discharged from hospitals out of a total of 2,223,789 infected people, Lari added.

The spokesperson went to say that 4,766 other COVID-19 patients are in critical condition and are being treated in intensive care units, adding that 14,386,423 tests have so far been carried out in the country so far.

Following a dramatic surge in coronavirus infections in recent days, businesses in Tehran have been forced to close for two weeks, as Iranian health officials urged people to stay at home and stop unnecessary travels.

HJ/