When one of the big liars in Islamic Republic apparatus says “we should assume the whole country is in “red” status,” it gives us a better picture as to how devastating the situation really is. Saeed Namaki, Health Minister, even after that dreadful statement said, “We should follow social distancing in order to have Friday Prayers across the country.” Islamic Republic still insists on holding gatherings that have cost thousands of people their lives and livelihood. After more than 7 months, not only they haven’t been able to even slow down the novel coronavirus, they have been accelerating its spread by lifting little restrictions prematurely and suddenly and holding religious gatherings in Ramadan, Muharram and now schools reopening!
In the meantime, his Deputy in Health Affairs, Raisi, gave a long speech about how travelings in recent weeks have caused a new surge in cases and admissions, so much so that Tehran has seen twice the number of admissions in the past week compared to the week before. While it was predicted that blame game would be on people again, the fact that regime officials don’t admit to any fault is beyond shameless. Apparently, coronavirus only spreads through travelers who are in their private cars going to their private houses but doesn’t affect gatherings at all! Raisi added the soaring numbers are not specific to Tehran but other provinces are experiencing the same fate. He spoke about twindemic as well, saying in Australia has been lower number of flu cases compared to years past because social distancing and masks are effective preventative measures against both flu and coronavirus. He hopes that would be the case for Iran as well.
Deputy Health Minister also said a “substantial doses of flu vaccines” would be distributed to pharmacies and only high risk people should purchase the vaccine. A question comes to mind, how did Islamic Republic managed to import “substantial” amount of flu vaccines if medicine is sanctioned as they have been claiming for years?! Even today, Namaki was praising his work “despite sanctions on medicine and medical supplies.”
Another Ministry of Health official, its Spokesperson, announced 2,705 new cases and 140 deaths in the past 24 hours. Active cases continue to soar and break new records every day while officials from different provinces warn about the spike in cases! Qom is still “beyond red” and Alborz joins the list of provinces with a sharp uptrend! Sima Sadat Lari mentioned the same 28 provinces in critical status. Despite all that, there is no plan to slow down the spread but even “remote working” will not be renewed anymore in Tehran! Islamic Republic insists on its original plan: wait it out, manipulate facts and numbers, pray for a miracle and/or vaccine, whatever happens happens!
Basic Reproduction Rate (R0) increases one more point, graphs indicate the horrifying situation and reports of full hospitals with exhausted healthcare staff are rampant!
R0: 1.46
Total: 407,353 (+2,705)
Dead: 23,453 (+140)
Healed: 349,984
Critical: 3,811 (+13)
Admitted: 33,916 (+594)
Tests: 3,613,891
Cover : Sanaz Safaei
