Air pollution has exacerbated the COVID-19 situation across the country. While UAE and other neighboring countries have reported Omicron variant cases, the Islamic Republic denies its existence in Iran, but at the same time, refuses to share any sequencing information. Since the epidemic began in February 2020, the Islamic Republic has never released detailed sequencing data of variants in the country.
While other countries are implementing stricter border controls and enforcing vaccine mandates against COVID-19 out of caution for the new Omicron variant, Islamic Republic is laying the groundwork to reopen its tourism industry at full capacity. Health experts and even officials from the Ministry of Health warn about the new variant, but the regime continues to ignore the signs. It has already reopened the schools and universities when the majority of students 12-17 have not been immunized and only about 50% have received 2 doses of the ineffective and unapproved Sinopharm.
After Khamenei banned the reliable US and UK made vaccines, he promoted COVIran Barekat, a “homegrown vaccine” developed by his foundation. However, it turned out to be a failure and a way to plunder billions of dollars for the “Supreme Leader.” His corruption also cost thousands of Iranians their lives. It was not long that the Islamic Republic imported the Chinese Sinopharm in multiple shipments. According to WHO, 3 doses of this vaccine is required for “full vaccination”, however, official data show that only 1,145,493 (1.36% of Iran population) have received 3 shots.
The Ministry of Health Spokesperson claimed 76 have died of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours and 3,839 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 310,000 have died of the disease since February 2020. Graphs illustrate the ongoing crisis in Iran and forming of the new wave.
R0: 1.86
Total: 6,125,596 (+3,839)
Dead: 129,988 (+76)
Recovered: 5,901,532
Critical: 3,314 (-14)
Active Cases: 94,076 (-5,195)
Total Tests: 38,983,629
Cover: Hossein Yarahmadi
