Iran declares masks mandatory as it hits record daily coronavirus death toll

Iran is the worst-hit country in the Middle East

(AP)

Surgical masks have become mandatory in all public places in Iran after the country appeared to be losing control in its battle against Covid-19.

It reported a record 163 deaths attributed to the respiratory pandemic over the last 24 hours, the highest daily fatality count in the country since the disease struck Iran.

In a daily briefing, Iranian health ministry spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari also reported 2,560 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total of those confirmed to have contracted the virus to at least 240,000.