Islamic Republic, despite health experts warnings, has increased the use of Mazut, the low quality fuel oil, especially during the cold months which has caused an unprecedented air pollution in Tehran and other big cities such as Isfahan, Ahvaz, Shiraz and Mashhad. The air quality has been designated as “red” and dangerous for all. According to officials, 26% of fatal heart attacks are caused by extremely poor quality air. Official data indicate that more than 41,000 Iranians die annualy as the result of poisonous air, but Islamic Republic has not been able to or not willing to fix the problem. The polluted air has been an additional burden on COVID-19 patients in Iran who have to breathe in particles as large as 10pm!
As concerns over Omicron and its vaccine evasion grow, an official from the Ministry of Health finally admits that the new variant will arrive in Iran, “sooner or later” but it is “inevitable!” Ghaderi, Head of the Infectious Diseases Control at the Ministry of Health, confirmed our previous reports that sequencing of the novel coronavirus is minimal in the country by saying: “Only 2 laboratory across Iran are equipped to sequence and only special cases are tested.” He failed to mention what “special cases” get sequenced.
In the meantime, the slow vaccination with the ineffective Sinopharm and other “deactivated” vaccines continues. While WHO had recommended 3 doses of Sinopharm, the major shot used in Iran, for “full vaccination”, new studies have shown Sinopharm, Sputnik V and other non-mRNA vaccines are even less effective against Omicron. Head of Islamic Republic CDC urges everybody to take their 3rd dose seriously and get it as soon as possible.
However, since Khamenei banned UK and US made vaccines, promoted the “domestic” COVIran Barekat which failed miserably and caused a massacre in Iran, people have been lost all their trust in the healthcare system of the regime. Official data show, since February 9, only 3,119,381 (3.71% of population) have received 3 doses of these vaccines.
The Ministry of Health Spokesperson claimed 52 have died of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours and 2,651 tested positive for the novel coronavirus. Professor of Epidemiology at Tehran University believes these numbers must be multiplied by 7 and Civil Registration Organization data show more than 313,000 have died of the disease since February 2020. Graphs illustrate the ongoing crisis in Iran and forming of the new wave.
R0: 1.75
Total: 6,162,954 (+2,651)
Dead: 130,883 (+52)
Recovered: 5,985,735
Critical: 3,004 (-38)
Active Cases: 46,336 (-2,570)
Total Tests: 40,362,269
Cover: Hadi Zand
