Sima Sadat Lari announced 2,685 new cases and 208 deaths in the past 24 hours in Iran. She also announced the same 26 provinces in red and alarming status. However, she specifically mentioned Mazandaran, Lorestan and Qom. She confirmed the number of cases and admissions have increased twice in Mazandaran in the past 6 weeks and asked people to refrain from traveling to Mazandaran. She said the same about Lorestan and Qom that uptrend in those provinces is worrisome and the cases are increasing faster than expected, but still she categorized Qom as “alarming” instead of “red”!
With 26 of 31 provinces in dire situation, the Ministry of Health insist on being able to hold national university entrance exam with more than 1,000,000 high school graduates taking it across the country! All to have something to brag about in the next few weeks, regardless of how many young individuals will be affected and how they might spread it to their families all around the nation. This is while earlier national exams including graduate studies where held without following “protocols” and some of the attendees already have tested positive. Parents, most “parliament representatives” and even Science Minister are against having the test in the next few days. Even Dr. Minoo Mohraz, a member of National Task Force said the exam should be held in outdoor spaces including large stadiums, for example Azadi Stadium in Tehran! But Health Minister insists everything is ready! In the meantime, another officials from another side of the government says with the current situation, next school year would be held online and in-person classes would be kept at minimum. Chaos at every level.
While 92% of Iran’s population are in critical conditions, Moharram stays at the top of news in the country. Officials keep insisting on holding “mourning ceremonies” and spending hours and a load of money on meetings to figure out how to kill more people starting August 20! They have already announced the “protocols” but meetings and news continue! Whatever comes out of those meeting would be in the same framework.
The hospitals across the country report full beds and shortage of supplies including masks and protective gears. Healthcare workers are exhausted with excessive heat and multiple long shifts for about 6 months! In the meantime, Islamic Republic keeps blaming people and doesn’t impose more restrictions, especially between-provinces traveling!
Basic Reproduction Rate (R0) and graphs indicate the ongoing crisis and increased risk of any gathering. The situation would get worse by the day if gatherings like the national exam and Moharram ceremonies are held. We have already established many times that Islamic Republic has no concern for Iranians’ lives but its grip on power, that’s why they keep lying about the stats and constantly blame people.
R0: 1.40
Total: 309,437 (+2,685)
Dead: 17,190 (+208)
Healed: 268,102
Critical: 4,089 (+78)
Admitted: 24,145 (+205)
Tests: 2,508,418
Cover: Seyed Kazem Yousefi
