NEW DELHI (WION) — Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani said Sunday that mask-wearing will be mandatory in certain areas as of next week and gave virus-hit provinces the green light to re-impose restrictive measures.

Iran recorded its highest number of deaths from COVID-19 within a 24-hour period, official health ministry figures showed on Monday. The official figures are 225,205 cases of infection and 10,670 deaths (186,180 recovered). However, it is widely believed, including by WHO, that these figures are far below reality, as the lack of testing capacity leaves a large number of cases undetected.

Mask-wearing would be “obligatory in covered spaces where there are gatherings”, Rouhani said during a televised meeting of the country’s anti-virus taskforce.

According to Deputy Health Minister Iraj Harirchi, “services will not be given” to those without masks in areas such as “government organizations and shopping malls.”