Obliterating previous numbers, Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani says 25 million of the country’s 84 million people are infected with Coronavirus.

The Health Ministry has confirmed 269,440 cases. It has announced 13,791 deaths, including 183 on Friday as the virus surges across much of the Islamic Republic.

However, medics, activists, and some Iranian officials have said that cases and deaths are far higher than the official numbers. A Parliamentary report in April assessed that cases were more than double the public count.

Summarizing a report from the Health Ministry’s Research Director on Saturday, Rouhani held the line on the death toll but emphasized the 25 million infections.

In a dramatic reversal of his declaration of “success” earlier this month, Rouhani said hospitalizations will double in the near future from 200,000 over the past five months to 400,000.

Without giving details, he said Iran has access to “five types of anti-Coronavirus medicines” and will use another treatment in the next few days.

Amid Iran’s economic crisis, the Government began reopening businesses, mosques, restaurants, universities, and other public spaces from April 11.

But the easing of restrictions brought a resurgence of the virus, with daily cases up to 300% more than the low of 803 on May 2. The official daily death toll set new highs, reaching more than 200.

Nine of Iran’s 31 provinces are classified as “red zones” for infection. Officials in the capital Tehran warned this week that cases are at an “emergency level”.

Authorities in Tehran have shut down arts and culture centers, universities, schools, seminaries, libraries, movie theaters, museums, mosques, and beauty salons for one week.