While the number of infected and dead has reached new record levels in the past week in Iran, a curfew has been imposed after six o'clock in the evening.

Schools, mosques and many shops are closed.

But now a more extensive shutdown is being considered.

The country's health minister says the details will be presented tomorrow Saturday. 

Third wave the deadliest so far

According to the message that regularly rolls on Iranian state television, someone dies every four minutes of covid-19 in Iran.

The death toll of over 40,000 people is the highest official in the Middle East. 

But the statistics are also questioned by the authorities.

The country's deputy health minister has said that at least twice as many people may have died in Corona, Iran. 

Authorities say the third wave of the pandemic has killed more than in the first two phases.

Therefore, mainly grocery stores, pharmacies and hospitals should be kept open while all "unnecessary" activities are closed.

At the same time, Iran is a country with a large poor population and many cannot afford to stay home from work. 

"We bury 350 dead every day"

Healthcare in Iran was already under pressure from the economic sanctions against the country when the spread of infection took off in February this year. 

Thousands of new graves are now being dug in one of the world's largest cemeteries, Behesht-e-Zahra, south of Tehran, to meet the new reality.

The number of funerals has doubled. 

- We used to take care of about 150-170 deaths per day before the corona outbreak.

Now that the virus has reached a peak, we are burying 350 dead every day - in Tehran alone, says the director of the cemetery, Saeed Khaal.

Tehran hard hit

Teacher Hajjar tells SVT that everyone she knows has a family member who has been affected by the virus.

She herself fell ill five weeks ago but recovered at home.

Now she keeps all her lessons at a distance. 

Journalist Sarbas Nazari says the virus came closer when his parents-in-law became ill.

 - For me, it was horrible to hear when they said they had to dig so many new graves outside Tehran.

Tehran is the part of the country hardest hit, he says