Widespread blackouts throughout Iran continue. Medical professionals and officials warn about the effect of the continuous and long power outages on COVID-19 patients and the vaccination process. According to the Chairman of Tehran Corona Combating Committee, oxygen generators in hospitals and clinics used to treat COVID-19 patients, operating rooms and emergency rooms encounter serious issues during the blackouts. Dr. Zali added the cold chain needed for vaccination storage and use is impacted too, causing to lose valuable vaccines. He also sounded the alarm for the fifth wave of coronavirus if the Indian and South African cases in several provinces are not contained. Dr. Zali emphasized Tehran’s situation is “very unstable.”
Reports from vaccination centers raises the concern for continuous and consistent break in refrigerators and freezers storing COVID-19 vaccines. Officials in these centers warn they are facing problems in keeping the vaccines safe, especially since new batches are delivered every few days! “We are forced to use cool boxes and use ice to keep the vaccines cold,” which is not proper temperature for most shots. This is how the vials are delivered in Shiraz:
Dr. Tavakoli, Vice Chairman of the Tehran Corona Combating Committee, admitted Indian and other strains of coronavirus have reached Tehran but said the dominant variant is the UK one.
In the meantime, Islamic Republic Health Minister has become the propaganda trumpet for the IRGC and regime! Saeed Namaki said, “We are aiming at gatherings with precision-guided missiles, not allowing the country to get pinned down with another coronavirus wave.” He then expressed his worry over the spread of Indian and South African variants in South, South Western and Eastern provinces! Previously, he had confirmed cases in West Azerbaijan (NW) and Qom (North) of the country. He preached the healthcare staff about not being afraid of “any enemy.” Saeed Namaki also appointed an IRGC commander as his deputy in executive affairs at COVID-19 National Vaccination Coordination Task Force!
While Islamic Republic officials, including Hassan Rouhani, have promised several times to finish vaccination of 14 million vulnerable groups by June 22, Deputy Health Minister in Treatment Affairs hoped “the majority of vulnerable groups” would be vaccinated by September 22! Dr. Janbabaei said the next waves of coronavirus could be prevented with mass immunization, and COVID-19 deaths will significantly decrease by vaccinating the elderly. He stated people below 60 years of age will receive “Iranian shots.” According to Saeed Namaki, they will be ready by June 22.
Despite promises by National Task Force Spokesman that adult Iranians will be immunized by March 22, 2022, Chairman of Iran Internal Medicine Board called it impossible. Dr. Khosronia cited the current slow rate of vaccination and 20million Iranians in 40-50 age group as the reasons for his assessment. According to official data, since February 9, 460,853 (0.54% of population) have been fully vaccinated and 3,065,039 shots administered. The daily rate remains at 70,000, even though Namaki had promised it to reach 300,000 by yesterday!
Ministry of Health Spokesperson claimed 251 died of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours in Iran while 11,005 tested positive for the novel coronavirus. Sima Sadat Lari did not mention specific variants information. Her manipulated data indicate a significant increase in both cases and death toll from the day before. Iran Medical Board officials admit the real numbers are at least 3 times higher than what is reported. The graphs show the history of COVID-19 crisis in Iran in the past 16 months.
R0: 3.37
Total: 2,843,523 (+11,005)
Dead: 78,848 (+251)
Recovered: 2,347,752
Critical: 4,753 (-88)
Active Cases: 416,923 (-3,209)
Tests: 19,054,521 (22.8% of the population, assuming each test was performed on 1 person)
Cover: Mojtaba Kavar
