New cases of coronavirus UK variant has been reported from across Iran. In Dehloran county of Ilam, 12 new infections were confirmed making their total 14 in one county. Khuzestan remains critical and officials have resorted to cutting off power in downtown and busy streets to prevent gatherings. According to Head of Eastern Ahvaz Health Network number of walk-ins have increased 10-fold while hospitalizations have risen in the same rate. Ahvaz Medical University has asked Ministry of Health and Nursing Organization to send volunteers to the city. Dr. Soltani said the hospitals are at full capacity and all non-emergency medical services and surgeries have been canceled.
Vaccination in Iran started in February 10, behind neighboring countries and with only 20,000 doses of Sputnik V. Saeed Namaki announced from tomorrow, the new round of immunizations with 100,000 shots of Sputnik will begin. Health Minister said 20,000 of jabs will be given to elderly and disabled in addition to healthcare workers. He expressed optimism that by the end of September, majority of vulnerable groups will be vaccinated. That’s at least another 7 months of sufferings and deaths for Iranians, because Islamic Republic “Supreme Leader” banned US, UK and France made coronavirus vaccines such as Pfizer and Moderna.
Deputy Chief of Traffic Police announced travel ban for Khuzestan, Gilan, Golestan and Mazandaran provinces in addition to Mashhad, Shiraz, Kish, Qeshm, Isfahan, Bandar Abbas and Bushehr. Hosseini said this ban remains in place until further notice. He reiterated the 9PM-3AM traffic curfew is enforced in all cities across the country.
After the death of 2 pregnant nurses from COVID-19 in the past 12 days, Nursing Organization released a statement saying “vulnerable nurses and healthcare staff” should not be working in coronavirus infested wards and the directive was sent to hospitals in March 2020. However, it seems like the crisis ridden healthcare system and hospitals had to use all resources available, including pregnant nurses.
Ministry of Health Spokesperson announced her daily manipulated data, even though the officials have admitted the real numbers are at least 3-4 times higher. Sima Sadat Lari reported 94 COVID-19 deaths in the past 24 hours in Iran while 8,206 tested positive for the novel coronavirus. Testing remains in the same range while critical cases rise. Active cases keep increasing, forming the next wave of coronavirus in Iran, as seen on graphs.
R0: 4.16
Total: 1,607,081 (+8,206)
Dead: 59,830 (+94)
Recovered: 1,372,409
Critical: 3,712 (+7)
Admitted: 174,842 (+956)
Tests: 10,674,944 (12.8% of the population, assuming each test was performed on 1 person)
Cover: Hassan Fatahian
