Ebrahim Raisi presided over his first National COVID-19 Task Force meeting which had no outcome but “a one week notice to subgroups of the Task Force to change” everything that has been done in the past 18 months! According to Ghazizadeh-Hashemi, member of the Task Force, changes include “coloring criteria, essential businesses, implementing protocols, members of the Task Force and its structure, and possible support for businesses hurt by the pandemic!” Manipulated and undercounted data of Islamic Republic Ministry of Health reports more than 400 COVID-19 deaths in Iran every day, but the regime needs 1 more week to make some decisions!
Meanwhile, grim reports are broadcasted from every corner of the country. Head of ICU at “Imam Reza” hospital in Mashhad, the second biggest city in Iran and one of the hardest hit cities, confirmed hospitals are full, patients are behind hospital doors on the streets and the situation is deteriorating by the day! Dr. Sedaghat said this is not even the peak of the fifth wave, dominated by Delta variant. He demanded Muharram gatherings to be canceled, even outdoor ones, because they would exacerbate the already out-of-control crisis. He also admitted the previous Eids assemblies and rituals have “brought us here!”
Mashhad’s Hasheminejad Hospital is full too. Cemeteries across the country are flooded with bodies including Kerman, Tehran and Mashhad. Kermanshah is worried about the rise in hospitalizations and deaths. Ardabil warns about the raging wave of COVID-19 patients. Chaharmahal-Bakhtiari official says the healthcare system barrier is about to collapse! Fars health authorities reported record breaking number of hospitalizations in the province in the past 24 hours, “it shows the depth of the crisis!” Hormozgan keeps adding new beds but still needs more. Gilan is incapable of handling the score of patients. And Ministry of Health added 51 new counties to the list of “red” areas, reaching 336!
However, nothing can stop the theocratic regime from holding Muharram gatherings. According to this religious leader, “Hossein is your water, Hossein is your everything and you were born to reach Hossein!” And as head of Islamic Propaganda Organization had said previously, “no gathering will be closed in Muharram due to COVID-19!” And another one in Mashhad insists the gatherings must be held according to “Supreme Leader’s advice.”
On the vaccination front, it continues chaotic and slowly. Official data shows since February 9, total of 15,133,810 shots of Sinopharm, Sputnik V, COVIran Barekat, Covaxin and Astrazeneca have been administered while only 3,007,981 (3.58% of Iran population) are fully vaccinated.
Ministry of Health Spokesperson claimed 387 died of COVID-19 in Iran in the past 24 hours and 26,439 tested positive for the novel coronavirus. Deputy Health Minister Harirchi admitted the real numbers are “definitely much higher!” As seen on the graphs, active cases broke its yesterday’s record and critical cases continue to soar.
R0: 3.00
Total: 4,119,110 (+26,439)
Dead: 93,473 (+387)
Recovered: 3,515,263
Critical: 6,375 (+96)
Active Cases: 510,374 (+3,257)
Total Tests: 26,399,374
Cover: Mohammadreza Farbood
