An Iranian woman wears a mask and face shield, amid a rise in coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infections, in Tehran, Iran, Oct. 24, 2020. Photo: Majid Asgaripour / WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters.

Iran’s total cases of novel coronavirus hit 1 million on Thursday with 13,922 new cases recorded in the past 24 hours, the health ministry said, as the Middle East’s worst-affected country’s death toll reached 49,348.

Ministry spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari told state TV that 358 people had died from the coronavirus since Wednesday and that confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection had reached 1,003,494.

Iran has introduced tougher restrictions to stem a third wave of coronavirus infections, including closing non-essential businesses and travel curbs.