Iranians wearing face masks walk on a street, in Tehran, Oct. 10, 2020. Photo: Majid Asgaripour / WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters.

Iran’s Health Ministry on Tuesday reported 5,039 new coronavirus infections in the previous 24 hours, the highest-ever daily tally, pushing the national total to 539,670.

Ministry spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari told state TV that 322 people had died from the disease in the previous 24 hours, bringing the official death toll to 31,034 in Iran, one of the worst-hit countries in the Middle East.