Chairman of Tehran Corona Combating Committee admitted the capital is at high risk of hosting the Indian variant of coronavirus and warned the COVID-19 situation is extremely fragile. Dr. Zali added that next week’s holidays (4-5 June) could cause another breakout, leading to the fifth wave! Dr. Koohpayezadeh, head of Iran Medical University, reiterated the same points, adding the decline in cases in Tehran is very slow and insignificant. Lorestan Governor sounded the alarm about the new variants in the country and a possible fifth wave, asking all protocols to be followed. Deputy head of Mashhad Medical University in Public Health warned that local “elections” and the gatherings will lead to the next peak in July!
Hormozgan Medical University recorded 24.5% positivity rate in the past week, rise of 14% in cases, 16% in COVID-19 hospitalizations and 71% in ICU admissions! Dr. Norouzian said the most important factor in this outbreak is attendance in religious gatherings and weddings. She predicted the situation would worsen as the weather gets warmer! East Azerbaijan officials say the decline in cases is not significant. Dr. Dorosti of Tabriz Medical University sounded the alarm for the next wave, saying there is a potential for another outbreak in the province. He also complained about the long lines and crowds gatherings outside vaccination centers. “Unfortunately nothing is being done about this!” Kermanshah Governor also warned about the “fifth wave” and complete lockdown of the only “red” city in the province.
National Task Force Spokesman expressed his concern about the 5 provinces with increasing number of cases and hospitalizations with Indian coronavirus variant, too. Dr. Raisi said Bushehr, Hormozgan, Sistan-Baluchestan, Kerman and Kermanshah need to be more vigilant! He also announced country-wide travel ban between June 2 to June 7 due to holidays. Despite the travel ban rules, people continue to travel and nothing is done to stop them, because regime officials would prefer earning from hefty fines. The most recent of this experience was in Eid Fitr holidays 2 weeks ago.
In the meantime, Islamic Republic President claimed that all adults Iranians will be vaccinated by October-December if enough vaccines are available! He repeated his previous claim that by July 22, all vulnerable groups including about 14million people will be immunized. On May 5, Hassan Rouhani had claimed 10million doses will be imported in the “next weeks” but today said most Iranians will be receiving domestic vaccines! None of the homegrown vaccines have released their data so far, or been approved by any reliable health entity in the world. According to official data of Ministry of Health, since February 9, only a total of 3,846,520 shots have been administered and 0.60% of population (508,672) are fully vaccinated.
National Task Force Spokesman admitted to the shortage of vaccines, saying even though the capacity of administered doses per day is 300,000 but so far the record is about 200,000, which was set today with 209,147 jabs.
Meanwhile, healthcare workers continue their protests against empty promises, corruption, mismanagement, long overdue benefits and wages, lack of proper working condition and shortage of staff. “Imam Khomeini” hospital in Karaj is one of the many centers with unsatisfied front-line fighters against the COVID-19 pandemic. They chant, “Wherever we went, only heard lies.”
Ministry of Health Spokesperson claimed 173 died of COVID-19 in Iran in the past 24 hours and 7,107 tested positive for the novel coronavirus. Despite spread of Indian strain in the country, Sima Sadat Lari did not provide any detail about specific variants. Iran Medical Board officials estimate the real number of cases and deaths are at least 3 times higher than what is reported. Graphs remain the best indicators for 16 months of coronavirus crisis in Iran.
R0: 3.23
Total: 2,893,218 (+7,107)
Dead: 79,741 (+173)
Recovered: 2,425,033
Critical: 4,296 (-87)
Active Cases: 388,444 (-7,847)
Tests: 19,687,077 (23.4% of the population, assuming each test was performed on 1 person)
Cover: Reza Zangene
