Islamic Republic officials keep denying any case of Omicron exists in Iran, despite allowing passengers from South Africa, India and Pakistan into the country while it was banned. However, Dr. Chaman emphasized that “not seeing COVID-19 cases with omicron, doesn’t mean it is not in Iran yet!” Other experts have already confirmed that the new highly transmissible variant might be in the country. 3-dose vaccination remains below 2% across the country but the theocratic regime pushes forward with reopening the country based on “smart quarantine” program from today, December 6, which entails banning social services to the unvaccinated. The services include purchasing flight tickets to banking services!
According to officials, about 13% of Rasht residents have not received even 1 dose of the vaccines. WHO recommends 3 doses of Sinopharm for “full vaccination”. The Chinese shot is the most used, more than 82% of cases, in Iran. Students between 12-17 years old received this vaccine even though it has not been approved by WHO or any other international health body and in a study in Shiraz has been proven ineffective against the Delta variant, let alone the omicron which is evidently more transmissible.
In the past 2 weeks schools have been reopened across the country for mandatory in-person classes. In Tehran alone, 2000 students have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, and according to Tehran Governor, that translates to 150 per day! However, since the Islamic Republic does not share sequencing information, nobody knows what variant is circulating in schools at that rate! In Boyerahmad county of Kohgiloyeh-Boyerahmad province, 180 students have contracted the virus. The county’s Health Network asked people to get their 3rd shot or risk infection and hospitalization! Acting head of Shiraz Medical University reiterated the point saying people should take the 3rd dose seriously. According to official data, since February 20, only 1,397,543 (1.66% of population) have received 3 jabs.
On the other hand, Mazandaran reports increasing number of COVID-19 cases in the province with more than 340 hospitalizations. Deputy Head of Ahvaz Medical University criticized the flawed coloring map system and said it is misleading people, promoting “normal situation!”
The Ministry of Health Spokesperson claimed 77 have died of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours and 3,356 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 312,000 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: 6,134,465 (+3,356)
Dead: 130,200 (+77)
Recovered: 5,923,316
Critical: 3,232 (-17)
Active Cases: 80,949 (-3,907)
Total Tests: 39,415,479
Cover: Vahid Khademi
