COVID-19 crisis in Iran gets more dreadful every day. Head of Infectious diseases ward at a major hospital in Tehran said, soon hospitals will not be able to serve patients! Dr Hamid Emadi continued the situation is really bad and it looks like it is going to continue. Other hospitals in Tehran report the same problems saying there is no available beds to admit COVID-19 patients. Head of Sina hospital in Tehran says if the situation continues like this for another 18 months, there could be 700-800 deaths a day, more than 300,000 deaths due to coronavirus!
Saeed Namaki continues to praise himself and boastfully saying “Islamic Republic was the first country to devise plans for reopenings.” The main problem started exactly when the government decided to prematurely reopen businesses in April! At the same time, he blamed US sanctions for the problems the country is facing but then uses sanctions as a source of pride, “despite being under sanctions, we have achieved many things.” In another meeting with IRGC commanders, he requested their help, “Fighting coronavirus must be our first priority. If we’re defeated, the whole regime would be criticized!”
While COVID is raging through the country, and wearing masks have become mandatory at all times in Tehran after 8 months, even then the fining system is not being enforced! Tehran Police Chief announced deploying forces to metros today to prevent people without mask to enter! He also said people who don’t wear mask in shopping malls would be cited for the first time and fined if repeated! Just like holding religious gatherings, schools reopening, and other wrong decisions made by the Islamic Republic!
On the other hand, Deputy Health Minister Harirchi voiced his concern about the upcoming holiday (long weekend) which would make increased traveling predictable. He said after any major holiday, there’s been an increase in cases and deaths, however, he forgot to mention about the sheer volume of cases after Muharram or Ramadan gatherings! He also said he’s worried about the wedding ceremonies people would have after the month of Safar which holding celebratory ceremonies is a taboo. Harirchi added, “We’ve asked National Task Force to fine people who go on unnecessary trips and asked Tehran Governor to ban traveling during holidays.”
The problem is, Tehran Governor has no authority to do anything unless it’s approved by the Task Force, which is presided over by the President of Islamic Republic. Rouhani has made it clear several times that country-wide lockdown is not an option, since he’s afraid of an uprising like Novemeber 2019. Islamic Republic rather have a collapsed healthcare system and thousands of deaths due to coronavirus than killing people on the streets!
Rouhani created a fun moment for many social media users with the way he wore his mask today! He changed it and wear a normal surgical mask in his next meeting after being mocked online!
Sima Sadat Lari, Ministry of Health Spokesperson, participated in her daily show and announced the manipulated and undercounted data. According to her, 4,108 patients tested positive and 254 have died of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours. Active cases continue to rise through the roof, critical cases are increasing but tests remain in the same range.
Basic Reproduction Rate (R0) increased 2 points confirming other data points available on the graphs that the ongoing crisis is only going to get worse. In the meantime, Islamic Republic has no plan in containing the virus other than making it worse at times!
R0: 1.75
Total: 508,389 (+4,108)
Dead: 29,070 (+254)
Healed: 411,840
Critical: 4,570 (+37)
Admitted: 67,479 (+1,135)
Tests: 4,369,622 (6.0% of the population, assuming each test was performed on 1 person)
