Iran: Coronavirus death toll reaches 8,200 in 200 cities

Iran: Coronavirus death toll reaches 8,200 in 200 cities

The People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI / MEK) announced this afternoon, March 20, 2020, that the number of Coronavirus fatalities has exceeded, 8,200 in 200 cities across Iran. The number of victims in Tehran is at least 1,300, in Khorasan Razavi 800, in Isfahan 660, in West Azerbaijan 350, Kermanshah 240, and in Fars 200.

The IRGC and Khamenei’s Office’s monopoly over medical services, the unfair distribution of services, and the refusal to provide assistance to the people by financial centers such as the “Headquarters for Execution of Imam Khomeini’s Order,” Astan-e Quds Razavi, the Mostaz’afan Foundation, the Martyrs’ Foundation and others have led to the astounding rise in the number of victims. In the absence of minimum government support, many people, especially workers and deprived sectors have to go to contaminated workplaces to make ends meet.

In their New Year messages today, Khamenei and Rouhani, who, more than anything else, fear the eruption of popular uprisings, tried to minimize the scale of the Coronavirus disaster. In his message, Khamenei referred to the elimination of Qassem Soleimani three times, describing it as the most important event in 1398 (previous Iranian year). Without making any reference to the Coronavirus catastrophe that has swept the entire country, he brazenly said that during the outbreak of the recent disease (Coronavirus), sacrifices were so impressive that even people abroad praised the services!!

Rouhani, who is even more brazen than Khamenei sufficed to say that Coronavirus has endangered the health and livelihood of the people, adding immediately afterward, “Our hospital beds have increased two-fold in the past six years. Our hospital equipment is in better shape than any other time.” This is while not only hospitals suffer from a dire situation, but also the morgues, mortuaries, and cemeteries lack the capacity to hold the deceased.

Yesterday, five health ministers, including those during Mir Hossein Moussavi, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, Mohammad Khatami, and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad presidencies joined 17 medical scientists in writing to Rouhani that one month after the outbreak of Coronavirus, “The disease’s trend and its consequences are rising exponentially and at no time have seen a downturn… If this trend is not controlled and no effective solution is provided, the rise in the fatalities and damages is certain.” The letter concludes by saying, “Not adopting these recommendations is playing with people’s lives. Delay in decision-making will have irreparable damages and will lead to the death of a greater number of our compatriots.” The first signatory to the letter is Alireza Marandi, the former Health Minister, the current head of the Medical Sciences Encyclopedia and Khamenei’s personal physician.

Secretariat of the National Council of Resistance of Iran
March 20, 2020