Chairman of Tehran Corona Combating Committee confirmed 3.3% increase in outpatient coronavirus cases this week in Tehran compared to the week before. Dr. Zali said COVID-19 hospitalizations have increased, surpassing the recoveries. He attributed the decline in deaths to 70+ age group being vaccinated, asking the Ministry of Health to speed up the second dose for the elderly. Tehran Governor reported 8% increase in hospitalizations from the week before, telling Ministry of Health officials, they are waiting for more vaccines!
In the meantime, head of Arak Medical University warned that the fifth wave will be dominant by the Delta (Indian) variant which is deadlier and more transmittable. Dr. Jamalian admitted cases are on the rise from last week, the wave will reach Markazi province and everybody must be prepared to face it! He expressed his concern over continued flights to and from Russia, saying that would cause an outbreak soon. Head of Shiraz Medical University also reported a spike in positive cases south of Fars province, neighboring with Bushehr, Hormozgan and Khuzestan which have confirmed cases of Delta variant! Dr. Norouzian from Hormozgan Medical University announced 50% increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations in the province, asking the 9,587 who are quarantined at home to follow protocols!
On the other hand, the vaccination process moves ultra slow. Provinces are still waiting for vaccines and the priority has been given to second doses, because the gap between the two shots has grown significantly in the hiatus period when there was no vaccine! Health experts hope the 1 million imported Sinopharm may help with that. However, the total number of shots administered since February 9 is 5,335,753 while only 936,350 have been fully vaccinated with 2 jabs.
Islamic Republic officials claim they will start producing the Russian Sputnik V in Iran from next week. FDA Spokesman called it “Iranian Sputnik V!” Also, Health Minister promised they would approve PastoCoVac, the Soberana 02 vaccine made by Cuba and tested on Iranians on the third phase, for emergency use tomorrow! However, the trial head made it clear that the second dose for all volunteers has just been completed today and analyzing the results will begin after 2 weeks. Dr. Mostafavi also said the volunteers will be observed for 2-3 months to assess the efficacy of the vaccine against moderate to severe disease! It is worth noting, Khamenei has banned US and UK made vaccines in Iran, and officials’ claims have been proven false and or super inflated over time.
Vaccination not only has slowed down and was almost completely suspended for weeks, but this is how it is done! In an indoor facility with no ventilation or protocols followed. The recorder asks the world to see how Islamic Republic officials are creating the fifth wave themselves!
The healthcare workers have been neglected since the epidemic began more than 16 months ago and many of them in the private sector have not even been vaccinated yet. Their wages and benefits have been delayed for months and long shifts have exhausted them. Lack of protective gears made many sick and more than 140 lost their lives. In their continued protests demanding their rights, “Imam Khomeini” hospital workers in Karaj, gathered outside the building once again:
Ministry of Health Spokesperson presented her daily manipulated numbers. Sima Sadat Lari claimed 136 died of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours in Iran and 10,485 tested positive for the novel coronavirus, a significant increase in both cases and deaths. Iran Medical Board officials estimate the real numbers are at least 3 times higher than the daily reports. Ministry of Health refuses to provide variant specific details. Graphs show the forming of the next wave in Iran.
R0: 2.80
Total: 3,105,620 (+10,485)
Dead: 83,101 (+136)
Recovered: 2,760,229
Critical: 3,258 (-21)
Active Cases: 262,290 (-1,560)
Tests: 22,573,637 (26.9% of the population, assuming each test was performed on 1 person)
Cover: TasnimNews
