Delta continues its rampage and Islamic Republic keeps up its inaction and ignorance towards the COVID-19 crisis in Iran which has been ongoing for more than 18 months, and according to Civil Registration Organization stats, killing more than 200,000 Iranians until August 6, 2021. In the past 13 days, north of 7,600 have died of COVID-19 based on Ministry of Health data which are dismissed even by Deputy Health Minister Harirchi: “The real numbers are definitely much higher!” Considering the overwhelming number of cases and deaths, Islamic Republic has held crowded Muharram gatherings and encouraged people to attend because Khamenei believed “they are blessings!”
While Islamic Republic media report on the mourning ceremonies of Muharram, citizen journalists share videos of filled up hospitals and people waiting in lines for more than half a day to receive a response. This is Bandar Abbas, capital of Hormozgan province where officials say 319 were admitted in hospitals in the past 24 hours.
Mashhad remains “beyond critical.” Dr. Zamani, secretary of Mashhad Surgeons Society, rebuked the government for spending more than 90% of expenses on treating COVID-19 instead of proper lockdowns, vaccines and education. He clarified until “treatment” is prioritized over “health” in fighting coronavirus, the virus will not be controlled in Iran. He said the current situation has made Iran like a “COVID-19 patient factory” which many are taking advantage and make money of it. He also expressed his concern about collapsing healthcare system and exhausted medical professionals. Mashhad’s Medical Community has called on volunteers to come and help healthcare staff, since shortage of professionals has left patients untreated.
Khuzestan is joining the list of critical provinces such as Tehran, Khorasan Razavi, Kerman, Hormozgan, Bushehr, Isfahan, Mazandaran, Ardabil, Golestan and Gilan. Head of Abadan Medical College strongly criticized the inaction of regime officials in controlling the virus and said, “it’s like nobody listens!” Dr. Salmanzadeh reported 3-digit numbers for COVID-19 hospitalizations in SW of Khuzestan for the first time since the epidemic began in Iran, 18 months ago. Head of Khuzestan’s Health Network confirmed the fifth wave dominated by Delta variant has increased hospitalizations by 80% compared to 2 weeks ago. Dr. Alavi said hospitals are full and in Khorramshahr, the central mosque is being prepared to accept patients. He explained this is not even the peak of the wave yet. According to officials, the vaccination centers across Ahvaz Medical University jurisdiction have been closed until more vaccines arrive!
The slow and chaotic vaccination with ineffective vaccines such as Sinopharm and COVIran Barekat continues. This is a sample of vaccination centers in Iran:
While Iranians blame Khamenei for banning US and UK made vaccines, Islamic Republic media and officials have started a campaign to exculpate the Islamic Republic “Supreme Leader!” Head of Health Commission at Islamic Consultative Assembly, Islamic Republic version of a parliament, blamed everything on the ousted Hassan Rouhani! Hossein Shahriari claimed the former president would not listen to anybody, when in fact, he always followed Khamenei’s orders: holding Qadr nights, Muharram gatherings, not importing Pfizer and Moderna,… Shahriari, however, confessed another reason for later importation of vaccines was “relying too much on the domestic ones.” In response to why COVIran Barekat authorities have been lying about the number of productions and their timelines, Shahriari tried to exonerate them: “They didn’t know they were lying! They thought they could do it, but they didn’t know, it was their first experience!”
While more Sinopharm doses enter the country, the vaccination process remains chaotic. Officials announced 1.11million more doses arrived in Tehran today. According to Islamic Republic Ministry of Health, since February 9, total of 21,490,705 shots have been administered in Iran while only 5,236,423 (6.23% of population) are fully vaccinated, a fact that has made World Health Organization concerned. Even Human Rights Watch, which is considered a pro-regime organization among the opposition, issued a statement admitting to Islamic Republic’s gross mismanagement which has compounded the crisis. In their statement, they also confirm the ban on reliable vaccines.
Ministry of Health Spokesperson claimed 564 died of COVID-19 in Iran in the past 24 hours and 31,266 tested positive for the novel coronavirus. Active and critical cases continue to break records as seen on the graphs.
R0: 3.08
Total: 4,587,683 (+31,266)
Dead: 100,255 (+564)
Recovered: 3,840,568
Critical: 7,538 (+48)
Active Cases: 646,860 (+4,261)
Total Tests: 27,579,653
Cover: Koosha Mahshid-Falahi
