Iran: Coronavirus Fatalities in 394 Cities Exceeds 90,700

The novel coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, has taken the lives of over 90,700 people throughout Iran, according to the Iranian opposition PMOI/MEK

Reporting by PMOI/MEK

Iran, August 18, 2020—Over 90,700 people have died of the novel coronavirus in 394 cities checkered across all of Iran’s 31 provinces, according to reports tallied by the Iranian opposition People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) as of Tuesday afternoon local time, August 18. The official death count declared by the regime stands at 19,972 around a fifth of the actual figure.

The coronavirus death toll in various provinces include: 22,205 in Tehran, 6500 in Razavi Khorasan, 6214 in Khuzestan, 4297 in Mazandaran, 3806 in Gilan, 2613 in East Azerbaijan, 2575 in Golestan, 2575 in West Azerbaijan, 1442 in North Khorasan, 1156 in Markazi (Central), 1147 in Semnan, 1403 in Kerman, 1065 in Ardabil, 1065 in Yazd, 841 in Zanjan, and 597 in Chaharmahal & Bakhtiari. This is in addition to reports obtained from other provinces.

“The government wants to return the situation back to normal by introducing health protocols. However, they are neglecting this issue that currently 26 of the country’s 31 provinces are in red or alarming conditions,” said Deputy Health Minister Reza Malakzadeh on Tuesday. On the other hand, according to the experts, the virus’ spread and power has tripled and even increased by nine-fold during the second wave. In the meantime, the medical staff are fatigued and cannot address a third wave that will come in the fall and winter seasons. Holding religious rituals and reopening schools and colleges will cause a massive Covid-19 crisis. If these gatherings and re-openings are carried out, we will witness a very concerning Covid-19 spread during the fall season,” he added, according to the state-run Setareye Sobh daily.

“We continue our emphasis on restrictions that are effective in preventing the spread of Covid-19. Tehran province remains fragile… At Monday morning, 3,281 patients were hospitalized, and we had 535 new cases identified and hospitalized,” said Tehran governor Anoushirvan Mohseni-Bandpei, on Tuesday, according to the regime’s official IRNA news agency.

“All the statistical analysis shows that the number of cases in Tehran is fragile and any change must definitely lead officials or the people to think a firm or even relative calm has been reached,” said Tehran Covid-19 Task Force chief Alireza Zali on Tuesday, according to IRNA. He emphasized on continuing the commuting restrictions, especially for administrative office employees.

“Alborz province, being a neighbor of Tehran, is in alarming status and some areas are red. The Covid-19 spread in these provinces will continue during the coming weeks… It appears that continuing the imposed restrictions and remote work practices will be necessary at least until early September,” Zali explained on Monday, according to the state-run Mizan news agency.

“Currently, Covid-19 in Qom has not decreased or ended. The number of patients in this province have increased five-fold,” said the deputy dean of Qom Medical Sciences University on Tuesday. “With this trend and considering the fact that various events are in the calendar, including college entrance exams and annual religious rituals this month, it appears that during the next 40 or 50 days this province will return to conditions witnessed in February and March, and our medical staff have very difficult days ahead of them,” he added, according to the Aftabe Yazd daily.

In Khuzestan province, the head of the hygiene center in eastern Ahvaz said, “The code-red situation in no other province has lasted as long as Khuzestan. As restrictions were lifted in late April, the number of cases increased and we suffered a terrible continuous peak. We still have a considerable number of patients in ICU, which is an alarm bell. If we let the coronavirus loose again, we don’t know what will happen in the next peak.” (Source: ISNA, August 16)

 

 

In Markazi province, the dean of Arak Medical Sciences University said, “The medical staff engaged in the coronavirus response are very tired. A large number of our staff have contracted coronavirus. Twenty-five nurses have left their jobs. The current situation puts extra pressure on other personnel.” (Source: Mehr News Agency, August 18)

“In the past 24 hours, eight coronavirus patients have died in Ardabil province and 44 new cases have been hospitalized. Right now, 307 patients are in the coronavirus sections in the province’s hospitals and 62 of them are in critical conditions,” said the dean of Ardabil Medical Sciences University.

“Covid-19 has peaked again since four weeks ago and we are witnessing deaths at hospitals like we did in February and March,” said the dean of Shahrud Medical Sciences University, according to the semi-official ISNA news agency on Sunday, August 16.   

 

Iran coronavirus outbreak death toll interactive map