TEHRAN — Iran on Wednesday reported 239 deaths due to complications caused by coronavirus over the past 24 hours, marking the highest single-day fatalities in the country, local media said citing a statement from the health ministry.

This brings the total number of virus-related deaths in the country to 27,658.

The grim figure comes a day after new COVID-19 cases hit a record for the third time this week.

On Wednesday, a further 4,019 infections were reported bringing the total to 483,844, the Health Ministry spokeswoman said in a statement on state TV.

According to the spokeswoman, 4,274 patients are in critical condition and that 397,109 have recovered so far.

Health officials said some 50 percent of the deaths have been recorded in the capital, Tehran, with a population of 10 million.

Iran, one of the worst-hit countries in the Middle East, has seen a spike in new infections in recent weeks.

More than 3,500 new cases have been reported on each of the past nine days, while Monday's death toll of 235 equaled the previous record set in late July.

Twenty-seven of the country's 31 provinces are considered to be "red" zones where infections are on the rise, but the situation in the capital Tehran and its suburbs has been described as "critical".

Deputy Health Minister Iraj Harirchi said on Tuesday that Tehran's hospitals were treating almost 5,800 Covid-19 patients, 948 of whom were in intensive care units.

Harirchi warned of the exhaustion of healthcare workers and medical supplies as the situation worsened in the city and other parts of the country. — Agencies