TEHRAN -- Iran's health ministry said on Sunday that at least 1,685 people have died of COVID-19 in the country, official IRNA news agency reported.

A total of 21,638 people have been infected with the novel coronavirus as of Friday and 7,913 have recovered, said Kianush Jahanpur, head of Public Relations and Information Center at the ministry.

Earlier in the day, the Iranian authorities ordered the closure of commercial centers, except convenience stores and pharmacies, in the capital Tehran amid the challenges of COVID-19 spread.

Iran is one of the hardest-hit countries by the coronavirus epidemic.

China sent a five-member expert team on Feb. 29 to Tehran to help control and prevent the spread of the virus.