Islamic Republic Ministry of Health officials expressed their worry over the increasing number of cases and “blue” counties turning “yellow” across Iran. Hamedan, Alborz, Tehran, Yazd, Hormozgan, Kermanshah, Zanjan, North Khorasan, Khorasan Razavi, South Khorasan, Kohgiloyeh-Boyerahmad, Khuzestan, Lorestan, Qom, Mazandaran, Gilan, Golestan, and West Azerbaijan reported soaring cases in hospitals. Shiraz Medical University reports more walk-ins and hospitalizations in Fars province as well. 19 of 31 provinces have sounded the alarm for the next wave of coronavirus in the country.
Deputy Health Minister Harirchi said the doubling of orange counties from 18 to 36 and decreasing number of “blue” counties is a “red alert” for everybody. Once again, he blamed people for traveling to Qeshm, Hormoz, Kish and other southern cities, without mentioning the government has relaxed the restrictions and allowed traveling once again, just like in April.
Coronavirus vaccine continues to be at the top of news cycle in Iran. Islamic Republic officials have started their empty promises months ago, contradictory comments and chaos have been the highlight of those months. Yesterday, a few thousand doses of Russian Sputnik V as the first batch entered Iran. Dr. Kermanpour, head of Public Relations Office of Iran Medical Council, tweeted the priority would be for ICU workers to receive the jab. However, Ministry of Health officials have not mentioned the exact recipients of coronavirus.
According to the head of FDA, Russia is to provide 2 million doses of coronavirus vaccine in several batches. FDA Spokesman confirmed Namaki’s statement about 4.2 million doses of AstraZeneca provided by COVAX system. British Embassy in Tehran, in a tweet, confirmed Islamic Republic has purchased 4.2 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine. The tweet mentions UK has contributed 548 million GBP in COVAX, stating the only way out of the COVID-19 pandemic is worldwide vaccination.
However, since AstraZenece is a British-Swedish pharmaceutical company which collaborated with Oxford University to produce coronavirus vaccine and Khamenei has banned UK, US and France made vaccines, Islamic Republic denied the news altogether! Hamid Baiedinejad, regime’s ambassador to UK, emphasized the order was not through England but COVAX is providing the vaccines. State-controlled media also hammered the British Embassy for the tweet! It’s worth noting, Islamic Republic has paid 52 million USD to COVAX to buy 16.8 million doses of vaccine over time!
Ministry of Health Spokesperson announced her daily undercounted and manipulated figures, with a big difference. State-controlled media did not report the number of “red”, “orange”, “yellow” and “blue” counties! Sima Sadat Lari reported 80 COVID-19 deaths and 7,061 new coronavirus infections in the past 24 hours in Iran. That’s an increase in number of cases for the fifth day in a row, testing decreased by 2,500 and positivity rate continues to go up. Yesterday, positivity rate was 12.73% while it reached 13.40% in the past 24 hours. Active cases had the biggest jump in weeks.
Basic Reproduction Rate (R0) and graphs continue to be the best indicators of the ongoing crisis for almost a year. The formation of the next wave is vivid in the graphs!
R0: 4.17
Total: 1,452,387 (+7,061)
Dead: 58,336 (+80)
Recovered: 1,241,320
Critical: 3,819 (-6)
Admitted: 152,731 (+1,242)
Tests: 9,557,624 (11.4% of the population, assuming each test was performed on 1 person)
Cover: Mariam Davarnia
