Iran has announced 235 new fatalities from the novel coronavirus in the past 24 hours, a figure equalling the record high set nearly 10 weeks ago.

According to AFP, the country also announced a new record for the number of Covid-19 infections in a single day, for the second time in less than a week. Tehran has been struggling to contain what is the Middle East's worst coronavirus outbreak since it reported its first cases in February.

Health ministry spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari said the 235 deaths — equal to the high announced on July 28 — had brought the total number of fatalities to 27,192. Lari added that 3,902 new infections were recorded in the past 24 hours, raising the country's overall caseload to 475,674.