Iran said it will make wearing face masks mandatory in certain areas and has allowed virus-hit provinces to reimpose restrictions, AFP reported.

The new steps were announced as Iran counted 144 new fatalities from Covid-19, its highest death toll for a single day in almost three months.

President Hassan Rouhani said Iran would have to live with the virus for the “long haul”, as he announced the latest measures to combat it.

Wearing of masks would be “obligatory in covered spaces where there are gatherings”, he said during a televised meeting of the country's anti-virus taskforce.