Iran this week is recording the highest number of new daily coronavirus infections since the virus was first identified in the country in late February, raising fears that the death toll is about the spiral as hospitals once again become overloaded.

Iran recorded 3,712 cases over 24 hours on Tuesday, the highest figure ever, 3,605 the following day, the second highest figure recorded, and 3,521 on Thursday. The official death toll is slowly rising to over 175 a day, higher than the peak of Iran’s first week in March. The official figures are widely challenged.

The crisis, and the lackadaisical response of some Iranians has led to increasingly dire warnings from the deputy health minister, Iraj Haririchi, angry that so many Iranians are ignoring advice to wear face masks, accusing them of violating the human rights of others.

Commenting on TV news reports showing many passengers entering the Tehran subway without masks said:

Some people, in response to the question why they did not use masks, say that we do not believe in masks. It is as if, for example, we ask them about the belief in the resurrection and prophecy, to which they give such an answer. If people are constantly saying why countries like China and South Korea have succeeded in controlling the disease, they should answer because in these countries, the rate of observance of social protocols, including the use of masks, is over 99.5%.

He added there was a social stigma attached to not wearing a mask in South Korea.

The offender is not only reprimanded for not respecting the citizenship rights of others, but also as an uncultured person.

Iran has reopened its schools and universities, but as many as 500,000 children are being kept away from school. There are also ominous complaints from the health minister Saeed Namaki about the non delivery of emergency aid by the government. Namaki said:

For months we have only received a small share of the $1bn that the Supreme Leader approved from the development fund. I don’t know what they are using it for that could be more important.

Some MPs calling for a corruption investigation by parliament.

President Hassan Rouhani has urged greater surveillance of the guidelines, and warned if the disease spreads new restrictions will have to be considered