Muharram gatherings may be showing their impacts with an uptick in number of cases and deaths in the past 2 days! While since Friday, the official numbers were showing signs of decline, as seen on the graphs, the COVID-19 death toll has increased in the past 2 days and so has number of cases, by more than 25%. The official data have been discredited since day 1. Deputy Health Minister says the real numbers are “definitely much higher” and an epidemiologist believes the figures must be multiplied by 7. At the same time, Civil Registration Organization data show 2.5 times more deaths, north of 270,000 since the epidemic began in Iran.
The hospitalization rate continues to be above 3,500 on a daily basis. Chairman of Tehran Corona Combating Committee reported more than 8,500 are hospitalized in the capital’s hospitals while 1,900 were admitted in the past 24 hours alone! Dr. Zali mentioned, at the same time, there were more than 20,000 outpatient cases in Tehran province as well. Kermanshah, Lorestan and Ardabil report continuous “black days” in their hospitals.
Meanwhile, according to Bahram Eynollahi, Islamic Republic President and his Vice President, insist universities must reopen as soon as possible, so they must reopen by early October. The Health Minister said students will be required to show their vaccination card before attending classes, however, other officials admit the majority of students have not received even a single dose. Eynollahi also claimed that 1.5-2million doses per day must be administered in Iran, to prevent more deaths and preventing the next wave. While that could save lives, the ineffective vaccines probably would not help that much, as many breakthrough and fatalities were reported among Sinopharm and COVIran Barekat receivers.The Health Minister announced, the travel and pilgrim bans will be lifted after mass vaccination, as well.
While Islamic Republic Minister is adamant “there is no problem in providing the second dose of vaccines,” another official says no Sputnik V second dose has been available. Dr. Ziaei warned the window for the second dose is closing and more than 1,000 people in South Khorasan are on limbo. He emphasized the Ministry must either provide the second dose or issue a directive on how to proceed. It is notable, first and second doses of Sputnik V are different and no other vaccine could be substituted for it.
In addition to schools and universities, Arbaeen gatherings and march remain the main focus of the theocratic regime! CEO of Red Crescent Society assured that all resources will be employed so people could go to Iraq and come back. Dr. Hemmati also bragged about importing millions of doses of Sinopharm to Iran, the ineffective vaccine against Delta variant. He also promised that 90 million doses will arrive by November!
The Ministry of Health claimed total of 29,453,444 shots have been administered in Iran, a decrease in daily doses in the past few days have made Iranians and experts concerned. Since February 9, only 9,832,848 (11.70% of population) have received both doses. The Spokesperson also announced 27,579 tested positive for the novel coronavirus and 583 died of COVID-19 in Iran in the past 24 hours.
R0: 2.80
Total: 5,156,986 (+27,579)
Dead: 111,257 (+583)
Recovered: 4,394,083
Critical: 7,628 (-61)
Active Cases: 651,646 (-4,273)
Total Tests: 29,568,864
