Iran's coronavirus cases surpass 80,000

Iran's Ministry of Health and Medical Education on Saturday reported 1,374 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of the infected to 80,868, according to the state TV.

Kianush Jahanpur, head of Public Relations and Information Center of the ministry, said that 73 patients died in the past 24 hours which increases the overall death to 5,031.

He put the number of recovered patients at 55,987, saying 3,513 are still in critical condition and under treatment.

So far, 330,137 people have been tested for the novel coronavirus in Iran, the spokesman added.

Iran is the worst-hit country in the Middle East in terms of the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths.