National Task Force Spokesman announced 538 confirmed cases of new coronavirus UK variant in Iran, in 29 of 31 provinces. Raisi also reported 14 “red” counties in the country, 13 in Khuzestan and 1 in Kohgiloyeh-Boyerahmad. He reiterated traveling to red counties by personal car is forbidden and only the ones with negative test result can hop on public transports to travel to those cities. In the meantime, Tabriz Medical University reported 131 new British variant cases which is the highest in the country. Ministry of Health officials had promised announcing color of cities by tomorrow, to determine which cities are off limits for Persian New Year Holidays. However, many have already started their trips. According to Hamshahri daily newspaper, 130,000 people are traveling every day using public transport, even to red and orange cities!
Hormozgan officials warn about the spread of UK variant in the province, especially in Qeshm Island, forcing to quarantine another village in the county. Medical University reported 22 new cases and a total of 64 confirmed patients with UK coronavirus. Kohgiloyeh-Boyerahmad authorities sound the alarm for upgrading the status of Dena & Boyerahmad counties to “red” in the next few days due to increasing number of cases and hospitalizations. Meanwhile, Bushehr is considered to be the next Khuzestan with a rise in outpatient and inpatient cases.
The Ministry of Health has been criticized for providing undercounted and manipulated figures since the epidemic began 13 months ago. Iran Medical Council officials believe the real numbers are at least 3-4 times higher. A research group affiliated with the Islamic Guidance Ministry conducted a survey in which 18% of poll takers above 18-year-old stated they had contracted coronavirus and 1.5% confirmed they’ve lost somebody due to COVID-19. Abbas Abdi published a piece in Etemad daily newspaper, estimating the number of deaths in Iran based on the survey, is 150,000!
The Ministry of Health Spokesperson said the rate of people following health protocols gas reduced to 60%, the lowest in the past 4 months, which is a red alarm for the upcoming wave of patients. Sima Sadat Lari also claimed 88 died of COVID-19 in Iran in the past 24 hours while 7,593 tested positive for the novel coronavirus. Testing remained in the same range while active cases continue to rise, as seen on the graphs.
R0: 3.85
Total: 1,746,953 (+7,593)
Dead: 61,230 (+88)
Recovered: 1,492,488
Critical: 3,831 (-5)
Admitted: 193,235 (+196)
Tests: 11,716,210 (14.1% of the population, assuming each test was performed on 1 person)
Cover: Sare Tajalli
