Another record-breaking day for Delta variant of coronavirus in Iran while Islamic Republic officials do nothing to curtail its rampage. Number of COVID-19 cases and deaths set a new record. According to undercounted data of Islamic Republic Ministry of Health, 40,808 tested positive for the novel coronavirus and 588 died of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours. Iran Medical Board president rebuked the government for lowering the daily PCR tests and admitted the figures are “much higher!” Dr. Zafarghandi also criticized the government and regime for not importing reliable vaccines in time and blamed the current situation on slow vaccination. “Iran is behind the world in vaccination.”
Hospitals have no more room to increase their beds since even their corridors, ERs, parking garages and outside grounds are filled with beds. Tehran Corona Combating Committee official said all records were broken in the capital. Dr. Tavakoli warned no gathering should be held, even outdoors. Dr. Zali, the Chairman of the committee, reported the situation is inexplicable and healthcare staff are exhausted, especially since most of them are owed their wages and benefits. He announced 162 deaths in Tehran alone in the past 24 hours. He also asked people not to participate in any gathering. There are reports of full hospitals from all corners of Iran: Tehran, Chaharmahal-Bakhtiari, Semnan, Khorasan Razavi (Mashhad), Hamedan, Gilan, Hormozgan, Markazi, Lorestan, Khuzestan, Sistan-Baluchestan, Ardabil, Kerman, Fars (Shiraz)…
Dr. Saghafi from Ghaem hospital in Mashhad describes the situation: “We have nothing left, not even a gurney…There is not even mask or gloves for healthcare staff… It’s worse than war time… please help us, right now… all other wards had to be shut down… our healthcare staff are dying fighting the situation…save us…poverty, misery, etc on one side, and dying on the other…we can’t handle it anymore…everybody is dying…do whatever you can, please…do something, right now… this massacre will be written in history…”
Meanwhile, Deputy Health Minister Harirchi says if there is no gathering held, according to several international research estimations, the number of cases will continue to climb for another 1 month and death toll will stay up for at least another 1.5 months! He admits the late and slow vaccination, religious gatherings, no financial support for businesses and people, and not implementing protocols across the country have brought us to the current crisis. Dr. Harirchi also confessed there are shortages of oxygen, medications and healthcare staff to respond to the flood of patients. Dr. Hamid Souri, head of Epidemiology Committee at the National COVID-19 Task Force, explicitly said: “Since the coronavirus epidemic began in Iran, there has never been any will in controlling it!” He added some people want to see more waves to reap more money. A member of Health Commission at the Islamic Republic “parliament” confirmed remdesivir and other vital medications cannot be found in drug stores but are easily found in the black market with jacked up prices.
On the other hand, the regime officials stubbornly insist on holding Muharram gatherings from tomorrow, August 10. Head of Islamic Propaganda Organization in Lorestan said, “No Muharram gathering will be canceled this year!” He added, 2,500 assemblies will participate in the province’s mourning month, just in Lorestan! Health Minister in a letter to the new “president” of the Islamic Republic asked that all “protocols to be followed during gatherings.” Interior Minister reiterated the same, but offered no guarantee or plan. And the IRIB, state-run radio and television, has been trumpeting Muharram’s agenda instead of broadcasting the truth about COVID-19 crisis in the country.
Dr. Souri and other professionals have rebuked the regime for missing the golden time to vaccinate Iranians and now is doing it with ineffective vaccines against Delta variant, and mostly administering one dose to increase the numbers! Dr. Souri emphasized that 2-doses of vaccines are required to have any efficacy. However, according to the Ministry of Health, since February 9, only 3,146,130 (3.74% of Iran population) have received both shots, while total of 16,148,375 doses have been administered.
The graphs illustrate the record-breaking numbers vividly.
R0: 3.06
Total: 4,199,537 (+40,808)
Dead: 94,603 (+588)
Recovered: 3,565,575
Critical: 6,561 (+99)
Active Cases: 539,359 (+13,680)
Total Tests: 26,586,805
Cover: Fatemeh Rahimavian – Golestan hospital in Ahvaz
