While Saeed Namaki had said millions of doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been pre-ordered, head of Central Bank of Iran says the order hasn’t been placed yet! He blamed it on the US sanctions and restricted banking relations between Iranian banks and international ones. However, WHO and US have repeatedly said sanctions don’t include medicine, medical supplies and humanitarian aids, including COVID-19 vaccine. On the other hand, Dr Mardani, a member of National Task Force, said, “Sanctions have no impact on getting the vaccine since it’s distributed through WHO’s COVAX system.” Dr Mohraz, another member of National Task Force, had spoken about Iranian made vaccine against coronavirus, implying the crisis will continue until July 2021!
The Ministry of Health continues bragging about the decline in number of cases and deaths! Sima Sadat Lari presented her daily manipulated and undercounted data announcing 284 deaths in the past 24 hours in Iran while 10,827 new infections have been recorded. The number of red, orange and yellow counties remain unchanged. In the meantime, she says “Martyr Soleimani” plan to screen every household in the country is the only task for IRGC until coronavirus crisis is contained! She didn’t give any details about how this “plan” is performed and how Basijis are screening people. Health experts and provincial officials continue to warn about the fragile situation and temporary decline in numbers.
At the same time, Ministry of Health Spokesperson admits the cases are increasing in the northern provinces, Mazandaran, Gilan and Golestan. Lorestan, Kerman and Fars officials say the virus could return to another peak if the protocols are not abode by people. However, videos surfaced showing all businesses are open in those provinces and people going about their normal business as if there’s no “lockdown!”
Basic Reproduction Rate (R0) and graphs continue to be best indicators of the ongoing COVID-19 disaster in Iran for the past 10 months. Testing remains in the same range. Active cases show a decrease for the first time in weeks! Recoveries have increased to the highest level since the epidemic began, as if Islamic Republic is not sharing the cure it has found for COVID-19 with others.
R0: 4.58
Total: 1,051,374 (+10,827)
Dead: 50,594 (+284)
Recovered: 742,955
Critical: 5,796 (-13)
Admitted: 257,825 (-1,614)
Tests: 6,432,228 (7.7% of the population, assuming each test was performed on 1 person)
Cover: Majid Khahi
