Khuzestan is getting ready for the next wave of COVID-19 in Iran, possibly dominated by omicron variant of the novel coronavirus. According to officials, the province hospitals are on high alert and prepared! Quarantine bases are to be prepared in border crossings in the province. However, all these measures were “in place” for Alpha and Delta but they still reached Iran and together with the Islamic Republic caused a massacre. Khamenei banning the reliable US and UK made vaccines has made millions vulnerable since January 2020. He promoted COVIran Barekat, “developed” by his own foundation to plunder billions of dollars, which ended up failing miserably.
Meanwhile, the use of ineffective and unsafe Sinopharm as the major shot in Iran, has made many skeptical of its efficacy and discouraged to get the shot. Every day, several officials warn about low vaccination rate and at least 20% of the eligible population who haven’t received even 1 dose. Official data indicate that since February 9, total of 105,892,663 shots have been administered across Iran and only 47,147,333 (56.12% of population) have received 2 doses of these vaccines, mostly Sinopharm, which WHO recommends 3 doses to be considered “fully vaccinated.” The same data show that merely 1,066,269 (1.26% of population) have been jabbed 3 times.
Despite all the warnings and health experts’ recommendations, the Islamic Republic has reopened schools, universities and businesses. In Khuzestan, schools have to open windows for “natural ventilation” because schools do not have fans! In the meantime, COVID-19 cases continue to rise in Mazandaran and other provinces. Number of daily death toll has increased to 119. In Fars, officials warn about “fragile and abnormal condition” where 14 have died of confirmed COVID-19.
Air pollution in Tehran and other metropolitan areas across the country has made the situation even worse. Calls to EMS have increased by 28%. All schools are closed for in-person classes on Dec 1 due to dangerous air quality in the capital. It has been proven that air pollution would make respiratory diseases, including COVID-19, exacerbate.
The Ministry of Health Spokesperson claimed 119 have died of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours and 4,253 tested positive for the novel coronavirus. Professor of Epidemiology at Tehran University believes these numbers must be multiplied by 7 and Civil Registration Organization data show more than 310,000 have died of the disease since February 2020. Graphs illustrate the ongoing crisis in Iran and forming of the new wave.
R0: 1.90
Total: 6,117,445 (+4,253)
Dead: 129,830 (+119)
Recovered: 5,883,470
Critical: 3,334 (-4)
Active Cases: 104,145 (-5,895)
Total Tests: 38,763,945
Cover: Meysam Maleki
