Medical staff transfer a patient with Coronavirus to Masih Daneshvari Hospital, Tehran, Iran, March 30, 2020 (WANA/Reuters)

New cases of Coronavirus in Iran are at their highest point since March 28.

The Health Ministry announced 3,117 new infections on Tuesday, bringing the official total to 157,562. There were another 64 deaths, raising the official toll to 7.942.

Medics, analysts, and some Iranian officials have said the numbers are underreported. A Parliamentary report last month said the actual level of cases is about double that presented by the Health Ministry.

The Government began easing Coronavirus restrictions from April 11, reopening businesses across Iran and then in the capital Tehran. Mosques and shrine were reopened to worshippers, and restaurants allowed to take customers after the end of Ramadan. Universities are scehduled to resume classes on June 6.

Iran’s number of new cases officially fell to 803 on May 2, but has climbed since then.

Health Minister Saeed Namaki warned that “circumstances are not normal”. Alireza Zali, head of the oronavirus Taskforce of Tehran, told State TV last weekend that the situation in the capital is “still not favorable”. He asked the public for a “more serious observance” of social distancing.

But apart from restrictions in “red zones” such as Khuzestan in southwest Iran, the Government has not backed off the lifting of restrictions. Staff were ordered to resume work in offices from last weekend. President Hassan Rouhani said, “Doors to mosques across the country will open to the public for daily prayers,” and declared that shopping malls can now stay open after 6 pm.

In the midst of economic crisis, the Supreme Leader has put the emphasis on his declaration of a “Surge of Production” for this Iranian year. He has said that the surge will “neutralize” Coronavirus. With that priority set, Rouhani has defied the cases and deaths to proclaim “success” in dealing with the outbreak.

Iranian State media ignore the Coronavirus toll today. Instead, they feature stories on American protests, including Ayatollah Khamenei’s denunciation on Wednesday of the “nature of US government”; the Trump Administration’s sanctions; and the anniversary of the death of Ayatollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic.