Indian variant of coronavirus has become the top news in Iran while Ministry of Health keeps denying its existence in the country. However, Chairman of Security Committee of Islamic Consultative Assembly rebuked the National Task Force and Ministry of Health, saying they have taken the “talk therapy” path and only inform the public after the problem manifests itself! Azizi sounded the alarm that Indian variant is possibly in Iran already.
Khuzestan Port Authority official warns about Indian ships docking in Imam Khomeini Harbor. Ministry of Health Spokesperson announces instructions on how to prevent Indian strain of coronavirus. FDA Spokesman admits there has been “no sequencing to diagnose the variant” but it is expected to be seen in Iran in the coming days and weeks, “we hope to delay it.” Interior Minister sent a letter to Health Minister asking him to devise a plan for confronting the Indian variant!
Manipulated and undercounted data of Ministry of Health reported 496 COVID-19 deaths in Iran in the past 24 hours, which is a new record for daily death toll since the epidemic began in February 2020. The previous record was set on November 16 with 486. Khuzestan hospitals remain filled with COVID-19 patients, Gilan has no more vacant beds, East Azerbaijan hospitals are at full capacity. Ardabil reports increasing number of deaths and 100% of all hospital beds are filled in Fars. Kermanshah officials predict even a worse week ahead. North Khorasan daily death toll becomes double-digit.
Tehran Governor announced 19.5% rise in COVID-19 outpatients and 22.5% in deaths from last week. Bandpey confirmed there was a flight from India landed in Tehran on Saturday, April 24. He claimed all passengers are traced, implying they were not even tested. Dr. Tavakoli of Tehran Corona Combating Committee stated there are about 1,400 daily hospitalizations in the capital, ICU beds are at full capacity, cases and deaths are on the rise and will continue this path for another 2 weeks.
Despite all that, as Qadr nights approach, Islamic Republic health authorities released the new map of high risk areas for COVID-19 where many cities have been downgraded. According to the updated list, 113 counties were downgraded. 198 are designated “red”, 157 “orange”, 84 “yellow” and 9 “blue.”
The vaccination remains a mystery in Iran. The healthcare staff are not yet fully vaccinated. According to the official stats, only 171,210 (0.20% of population) have received both doses since February 9, while 824,113 total doses have been administered. Islamic Republic remains behind its own vaccination program and keeps pushing back its promises.
Today, in another regime propaganda charade, 5 volunteers received a shot of Cuban vaccine in Isfahan, starting the third phase of Pasteur Institute collaboration. Soberana 02 was supposed to be tested on 50,000 in Iran and even 100,000 doses were imported in March but later on, without any explanation, the officials said it would be tested only on 24,000! The missing doses support the reports that Cuban vaccine was being tested on street cleaners and other individuals without their knowledge.
Sima Sadat Lari announced 21,026 have tested positive for the novel coronavirus in the past 24 hours in Iran. Medical Board officials admitted the reported numbers are at least 3 times lower than the reality. Active cases reach a new high every day, as seen on the graphs.
R0: 3.82
Total: 2,417,230 (+21,026)
Dead: 70,070 (+496)
Recovered: 1,892,229
Critical: 5,244 (+38)
Active Cases: 454,931 (+5,818)
Tests: 15,313,657 (18.2% of the population, assuming each test was performed on 1 person)
Cover: Khadijeh Naderi
