The plot thickens, every single day! A chaotic decision, a predictable approach by the government, a mindless opinion from a cleric with unimaginable power over millions of people, or a comment by the highest health official which would make you bewildered, have become the new norm in Islamic Republic! Schools reopening has caused a lot of confusion even at the Ministry of Education level! We reported about Education Minister changing his mind in a 2-day span asking all students in all areas of the country to attend schools in person, which led to all parents to worry!
Last night a deputy to the Minister appeared on TV to clear everything up! Well, it went quite the opposite and he added to the confusion. He said, “Parents should call the schools in the morning to make sure they’re open!!” While closing schools during the past 7 months has been the ONLY right decision the regime took to control the virus, they’re going back on that too to make everything worse! It seems like the theocratic regime would like to kill or at least distract people with more problems so they won’t rise up like in November 2019!
On the other hand, Khamenei’s representative in Mashhad, Alamol Hoda, followed on Khamenei’s comments and said giving tablets and smart phones to rural children is not “expedient” because they would have access to the cyberspace which is not “controlled” properly! So maybe this is the reason for the sudden change in Education Minister’s opinion! As always, Islamic Republic is afraid of free flow of information, especially to the people who don’t have access to it now. They would find out more about the nature of this regime and won’t believe its propaganda machines in the country anymore!
Health experts, however, warn about reopening schools in this condition, especially with poorly maintained schools in the country, no plan to screen all students every day, school bus contamination and even more crowded public transportation vehicles! Head of Qazvin Medical University warns about the third wave of cases due to schools resuming their activities and Muharram gatherings! Ilam and Chaharmahal-Bakhtiari Medical Universities announce increased cases in their hospitals. Isfahan officials report 2 deaths from their healthcare staff and warn about hospital workers being exhausted and broken down across the country after 7 months fighting COVID-19!
Despite all that, Saeed Namaki, Islamic Republic Health Minister admits the hospital staff have unpaid wages for several months in some provinces! At the same time he claims despite all sanctions and economical problems, his ministry has come out victorious and the economy has contracted only 3.5%! He added, “We have risen from our ashes like a phoenix!” According to IMF estimation, in 2020, GDP in Iran will be 18% less than 2017!
Furthermore, Sima Sadat Lari reported more new cases for the past 24 hours, passing 2,000 mark again! She announced 2,026 new confirmed COVID-19 cases and 118 deaths. The same 28 provinces remain critical. Active cases continue to rise! Despite manipulated data provided by the Ministry of Health, graphs remain the best indicator of 200 days unstoppable crises in Iran.
R0: 1.44
Total: 382,772 (+2,026)
Dead: 22,044 (+118)
Healed: 330,308
Critical: 3,695 (-7)
Admitted: 30,420 (+195)
Tests: 3,331,073
Cover: Shima Masjedi/ISNA
