Coronavirus: Iran reports over 100 deaths for fourth consecutive day

Iran on Wednesday reported more than 100 deaths from the novel coronavirus for a fourth straight day, pointing to gatherings in high-risk provinces behind a spike in infections.

"Holding gatherings such as weddings and funerals is one of the main causes of increased coronavirus infections in red provinces," the highest level on Iran's colour-coded risk scale, said deputy health minister Iraj Harirchi.

Health ministry spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari said there has been 120 new deaths in the past 24 hours – the highest in a single day since April 11 – taking Iran's overall toll to 9,158.

The spike in cases occurred mainly in Iran’s oil-rich southwestern Khuzestan province following Eid Al Fitr celebrations late last month. The Islamic Republic, which saw the Middle East’s first and largest outbreak of the virus, has reported over 195,000 confirmed cases of Covid-19 to date.

Official figures have shown a rising trajectory in new confirmed cases since early May, when Iran hit a near two-month low in daily recorded infections.

There has been scepticism at home and abroad about Iran's official figures, with concerns the real toll could be much higher.

Cases are continuing to rise in Saudi Arabia, with 4,919 new Covid-19 infections and 39 deaths reported on Wednesday. So far 91,622 people have recovered from the virus in the Kingdom, where the death toll passed 1,000 people earlier this week.

Ministry spokesman Mohammad Al Abdel Aali said on Tuesday that the surge in cases was “due to a number of factors, most important of which is not taking the necessary precautions”.

Kuwait confirmed 575 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, and three more deaths out of a total 306 people to have died from the disease.

Across the region, governments are easing lockdown restrictions with Tunisia set to be the first Arab country to reopen its borders on June 27.

The north African nation, which has reported 1,125 infections and 49 deaths since the start of the outbreak, has promised visitors will be safe from the virus when its tourism industry reopens later this month, Bloomberg reported.

People in Abu Dhabi are now able to leave the emirate without a permit, but will need one to return, it was announced on Tuesday night. The emirate imposed a travel ban on June 2 to support a massive testing drive that has screened 388,000 people in the past fortnight.

Globally, coronavirus cases were above 8 million on Wednesday, with 3.9 million recoveries and more than 443,000 deaths.