Islamic Republic officials continue to downplay the severity of COVID-19 situation in Iran and provinces have started lifting all restrictions. However, Indian coronavirus variant is finding its way to new habitat. Today, in addition to Qom, West Azerbaijan and Bushehr, Yazd in the center of the country confirmed “several” cases of Indian-Californian strain in the province. South African variant is also a concern, which has been identified in more than 40 cases in Hormozgan.
In the meantime, an official from Tehran Corona Combating Committee confirmed the capital is still in the peak of the fourth coronavirus wave, despite what Saeed Namaki and other authorities may have claimed. Dr. Tavakoli estimated it may take another month to reach a stable situation in Tehran. He said more than 10,000 outpatient and 1,400 hospitalizations is a sign of being at the peak. He mentioned the only good sign is “more recoveries.” He predicted rising number of hospitalizations across the capital for at least another 2 weeks. Dr. Tavakoli expressed his concern over a possible new variant in Iran. “There is a possibility of a new mutation in Iran, considering the intensity and speed of its spread in the country.” He said it is possible this peak would become chronic due to new mutations.
Dr. Jalili-Khoshnoud, head of Tajrish hospital in Tehran, reiterated the fear over new mutations and increasing number of cases and admissions in his hospital. He also warned that younger individuals have been sicker in the fourth wave compared to previous ones, just as they died of COVID-19 more often than before.
However, none of these concerns stopped the “revolutionaries” to gather “spontaneously” in “Palestine Sq” and other areas of the country on “Quds Day” to burn US and Israel flags! All gatherings were “forbidden” by officials but no police was around to stop these “spontaneous” crowds.
While health and medical experts emphasize on the importance of vaccination as the only way to weather the COVID-19 crisis, Iran remains at the bottom of the list of countries with a “vaccination program.” According to the Ministry of Health, only 253,635 (0.3% of population) are fully vaccinated since February 9, and 1,485,287 shots have been administered. Islamic Republic officials have been using contradictions, empty promises, confusion and chaos as tactics to control the population and lengthen the epidemic.
IranTrue.com has proven the data provided by Islamic Republic are manipulated and undercounted, even Iran Medical Board officials have admitted the daily reported figures are at least 1/3 of the real numbers. Additionally, a study published by Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at University of Washington, confirmed the real COVID-19 death toll in Iran is at least 2.38 times higher than what is reported by the regime. The study used “expected death rate” method, analyzing pre and post pandemic death numbers. IHME’s data indicate 174,177 died of COVID-19 when the reported figure was only 72,906.
Ministry of Health Spokesperson claimed COVID-19 took the lives of 335 in Iran in the past 24 hours while 17,076 tested positive for the novel coronavirus. Sima Sadat Lari did not, as usual, provide specific variants of cases. Critical cases continue to rise, as seen on the graphs.
R0: 3.77
Total: 2,627,094 (+17,076)
Dead: 74,241 (+335)
Recovered: 2,074,089
Critical: 5,534 (+19)
Active Cases: 478,764 (+344)
Tests: 16,789,338 (19.9% of the population, assuming each test was performed on 1 person)
Cover: Amin Nazari – Dezful Hospital
