The sixth wave of COVID-19 in Iran gains momentum. Even the manipulated data of Islamic Republic Ministry of Health which are believed to be 7 times lower than the reality, show a significant increase in daily cases, hospitalizations and death toll. The new wave is expanded from the eastern provinces to the western ones. Zanjan officials announced the decline in cases has stopped in the province. Kohgiloyeh-Boyerahmad reports increasing infections and hospitalizations. Fars continues to struggle with flood of new patients, and Ardabil recorded a significant increase in patients admission compared to last week. Alborz and Tehran are no exception in seeing the rise.
On the other hand, the vaccination of students 12-17 years old with unapproved and ineffective Sinopharm has led to a rift between the regime officials who insist on reopening in-person classes and students, parents, and even teachers and schools staff who strongly oppose the decision. According to a survey, the reasons for each group are different. Teachers do not trust the officials for any decision, considering their empty promises in the past. Schools staff, in addition to the mistrust, also protest the low wages and benefits. Some schools principals even said the government has not paid the schools to provide disinfectants for students! Parents are worried about the COVID-19. Students are happy with online learning, however, some have to drop out since they are currently working to help their families with the current rampant poverty in the country!
The Ministry of Health claims total of 83,529,916 shots have been administered in Iran since February 9, while only 31,718,775 (37.76% of population) have received both doses of these vaccines.
The Ministry of Health Spokesperson claimed 197 have died of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours and 10,644 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 300,000 have died of the disease since February 2020. Graphs illustrate the ongoing crisis in Iran and forming of the new wave.
R0: 2.04
Total: 5,877,456 (+10,644)
Dead: 125,519 (+197)
Recovered: 5,443,243
Critical: 4,127 (-57)
Active Cases: 308,694 (-1,639)
Total Tests: 35,079,339
Cover: Mohsen Esmaeilzadeh
