Iran’s coronavirus death toll exceeded 56,000 on Friday after the virus claimed the lives of 85 people in a 24-hour period.
Health Ministry’s spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari said on Friday that the number of coronavirus fatalities reached 56,018, according to IRNA.
Lari added that 6,251 people tested positive for the coronavirus from Thursday to Friday, bringing the total cases to 1,274,514.
Of the new cases, 581 have been hospitalized across the country, she added.
The ministry’s official noted that 1,058,654 have recovered or been discharged from hospitals so far.
Lari also said that the experience of fighting the virus has proved that the coronavirus’ changes have not been predictable, because it could change every minute and astonish health systems around the globe.
New coronavirus variant, known as B.1.1.7, which was recently found in the UK, has been spreading across the world and raised concerns about the future of the deadly virus.
The new variant has brought tighter travel controls around the world. It has been responsible for plunging parts of the UK into near-lockdown levels of restrictions over Christmas.
Scientists believe it may hit younger people harder and be slightly more resistant to vaccines.