In addition to provinces reported yesterday, Kohgiloyeh-Boyerahmad, Zanjan and Hormozgan report increasing number of cases and warn of the next wave of coronavirus in Iran. Alborz reports a rise in walk-in cases. Ministry of Health Spokesperson said Kurdistan, Sistan-Baluchestan, Mazandaran and Khuzestan have the lowest compliance with health protocols. Khuzestan reported twice as many cases as last month. Lorestan officials say the increase in cases is “in full display.” Sima Sadat Lari suggested the restrictions of red and orange areas may be expanded to yellow regions as well, considering traveling between provinces has increased 7%!
In the meantime, gyms, full body contact sports such as wrestling, libraries and tourist attractions have resumes their functions in most cities around the country! Dr. Minoo Mohraz, a member of National Task Force, said the assumption that everything is normal because the numbers decreased in the past few weeks, have caused people to abide by rules less and less everyday and that’s why number of cases is increasing again. She said, “The fourth wave alarm is heard and it is on the way.”
COVIran Barekat officials announced their first phase of human trials will end by March 1 and the second phase should start by the end of March. Dr. Tabarsi, a member of the scientific team of COVIran Barekat, said by the end of spring the coronavirus vaccine should be ready for use. “However, in the meantime, Ministry of Health will be importing vaccine from overseas.” On the other hand, Ali Rabiei, Government’s Spokesman, says, Iranian vaccine will be available by spring or summer!
Javad Zarif, Islamic Republic Foreign Minister, announced in Russia, that “yesterday, Sputnik V has been approved by the Islamic Republic Ministry of Health.” He added, “Hopefully, we will start importing the vaccine and will collaborate with Russia to produce Sputnik V for Iranians.” It looks like Sputinik V is one of the “reliable sources” Saeed Namaki keeps mentioning. While there have been no report on the Russian coronavirus vaccine being under consideration in Iran, we have reported Russian vaccine will be one of the vaccines which would make its way to Iran first, possibly by being rebranded as “Iranian.”
Air pollution is back to Tehran. According to the national weather services and Ministry of Health, 10 districts of Tehran have “dangerous air quality” and vulnerable groups should stay home.
Sima Sadat Lari continued her daily presentation of manipulated data. According to her, 79 have died of COVID-19 while 6,420 tested positive for the coronavirus, another spike in cases. Testing remains in the same range while positivity rate keeps rising. It was 11.45% yesterday and reached 11.63% today. The decline in other metrics have slowed down as well, while active cases show a small increase, as seen on graphs.
R0: 4.19
Total: 1,385,706 (+6,420)
Dead: 57,560 (+79)
Recovered: 1,177,367
Critical: 4,038 (-19)
Admitted: 150,779 (+44)
Tests: 9,015,376 (10.8% of the population, assuming each test was performed on 1 person)
