Concerns regarding normalization and relying too much on the unrealistic statistics provided by the Islamic Republic Ministry of Health grows. Deputy Head of Ahvaz Medical University says he’s not optimistic of coronavirus situation in Khuzestan province. He said, “We’re expecting bad news from Dezful,” one of the biggest cities in the province.
Zanjan sounds the alarm for 2 of its cities as the number of cases rise, Kermanshah officials say, “We’re worried about people’s gatherings which may cause Persian New Year markets be impacted, which would lead to more economical issues.” Alborz Medical University official says if there’s a next peak, it would be deadlier and much worse, because the virus is mutated and spread faster. Meanwhile, Qazvin officials blame the current increase in their cases on people gatherings during Yalda, and not Friday Prayers! MohammadHassan Aboutorabi, Tehran Friday Prayer Imam, criticized decisions closing mosques and preventing Friday Prayers in some cities, including Tehran. According to him, this is “against science and won’t last for long.”
Dr Masoud Mardani, a member of National Task Force, said the effects of air pollution that started about 8 days ago in Tehran and other metropolitan areas on COVID-19 will show in 2-3 weeks! He referred to WHO data and said the coronavirus will be in Iran at least until the end of Fall 2021 if restrictions are followed, chain of virus spread is broken and vaccination is performed on majority of the population! Islamic Republic has not imported any vaccine to Iran as of yet, despite all neighboring countries began immunizing their vulnerable groups. Mardani also voiced his concern over the normalization of situation and people not following protocols in near future!
Sima Sadat Lari presented the daily undercounted data announcing 6,283 testing positive for coronavirus in the past 24 hours in Iran while 82 passed away due to COVID-19. That’s an increase in cases compared to yesterday. Testing remains in the same 54,000 range. The Ministry of Health Spokesperson said, “coronavirus is still preying and waiting for an opportunity!” Basic Reproduction Rate (R0) and graphs show 11 months of human catastrophe in Iran.
R0: 4.24
Total: 1,261,903 (+6,283)
Dead: 55,830 (+82)
Recovered: 1,040,521
Critical: 4,780 (-49)
Admitted: 165,552 (-5,292)
Tests: 7,939,633 (9.6% of the population, assuming each test was performed on 1 person)
Cover: Alireza Masoumi
