Indian and South African variants of coronavirus claimed their first victims in Iran, according to Hormozgan officials. A 71-year-old male died of the South African strain while the Indian one took the life of a 28-year-old male. Dr. Nowrouzian from Hormozgan Medical University confirmed 44 cases of South African strain in the province and warned that it could spread fast across the country.
Saeed Namaki has expressed his concern about South African variant creating an outbreak in Iran but downplayed the Indian one despite being declared as “strain of concern” by the WHO. Last time Ministry of Health provided any details about different strains was on May 5, when Namaki confirmed more than 50 cases of South African, Indian and Indian-Californian in Qom, Yazd, West Azerbaijan, Bushehr and Hormozgan. In the meantime, Saveh Medical University announced positive coronavirus results of 4 Indian nationals in the city, citing they have not had any travel history to India in the past year. Their samples have been sent to Tehran for sequencing, according to officials. This could be the start of a new outbreak.
Today was Eid Fitr in Iran and the crowded Prayers were held across the country, in all cities, regardless of their “high risk” designations. People used public transportation and gather inside and outside to “pray,” while many hospitals have just started recuperating. Meanwhile, Friday Prayers Imams Policy Council announced tomorrow’s Friday Prayers will be held, despite “orange” status of some of the cities.
Despite Tehran hospitals being filled with patients, and Chairman of Tehran Corona Combating Committee announcing Tehran is still in “red” status, Tehran University reopens its dormitories to students from all over the country from Saturday, May 15.
Overinflated manufacturing and importation of new vaccine doses continues. While FDA Spokesman, National Task Force Spokesman and Ministry of Health Spokesperson have all hoped to have extra vaccines imported by today, from China and COVAX, it looks like it has been “delayed” once again. Of the 3,195,000 imported doses, which were to cover first and second doses, 1,670,118 (more than half) have been used for first shots and only 330,805 (0.39% of population) are fully vaccinated since February 9.
Meanwhile, Director of Pasteur Institute promises 1million doses of Soberana 02 COVID-19 vaccine which is being tested on Iranians, will be manufactured by June 22, and 4million will be ready by September 22. Not unlike other vaccine clinical trials conducted in Iran, no data has been published to the public yet.
Ministry of Health Spokesperson claimed 297 died of COVID-19 in Iran in the past 24 hours while 14,246 tested positive for the novel coronavirus. No sequencing data was provided. Iran Medical Board estimates the real numbers for COVID-19 deaths and coronavirus infections are at least 3 times higher than what is reported daily. The graphs continue to be the best indicator of the crisis in Iran.
R0: 3.67
Total: 2,722,007 (+14,246)
Dead: 76,231 (+297)
Recovered: 2,179,890
Critical: 5,481 (-20)
Active Cases: 465,886 (-3,854)
Tests: 17,616,446 (20.9% of the population, assuming each test was performed on 1 person)
