TEHRAN — The total COVID-19 cases in Iran surpassed 5 million on Wednesday, driven by an over two-month surge in infections, primarily attributed to the spread of the highly contagious Delta variant and a decline in observance of health protocols.

With 33,170 new cases reported, the country's total tally now stands at 5,025,233, according to data released by the Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education.

According to a briefing published on the ministry's official website, the pandemic has claimed 108,393 lives in the country so far, after 599 new deaths were registered in the past 24 hours.

A total of 4,237,315 people have recovered from the disease or been discharged from hospitals across the country, while 7,860 remain in intensive care units, the ministry said.

By Wednesday, 19,009,623 people have received at least a dose of a coronavirus vaccine in the country, while 9,058,204 have taken two doses.

The official report added that 29,006,289 tests have so far been carried out across the country.

Earlier in the day, Alireza Raisi, spokesman for Iran's national headquarters fighting the coronavirus, said the vaccination of certain professional groups such as hotel employees and bakers, who keep working even during red alert periods, would begin on Sept. 23. — Agencies