Iran begins new lockdown as coronavirus deaths reach record levels

Iranian authorities say less than 40% of the population follows measures such as wearing face masks and social distancing.

People wait for their turn to receive Covid-19 vaccine at a vaccination centre in Iran Mall shopping centre in Tehran, Iran (Vahid Salemi/AP)

Iran has recorded a record high number of deaths from Covid-19 for a second day in a row.

The official Irna news agency said that 655 patients died in the previous 24 hours, and health workers found some 41,194 new cases over the same period.