New and Unprecedented Coronavirus Death Record Set in Iran; Continued Government Failure in Combating COVID-19 Spread
Despite warnings from the U.S. State Department spokesperson a week ago about the worsening coronavirus pandemic in Iran, the critical condition of COVID-19 in Iran continues, setting a new record in the number of deaths.
Iran’s Ministry of Health announced on Monday, October 19, that 337 COVID-19 patients died in the past 24 hours, bringing the total death toll to 30,712 people. Since the coronavirus outbreak began in Iran nine months ago, this is the highest number of coronavirus deaths in a single day.
The accuracy of statistics announced by the Islamic Republic, like those from China and Russia, is highly questionable. Based on available evidence and contradictions observed in the data presented by various institutions, it can be said that accurate information is not being provided about the real number of infected and deceased. The World Health Organization and even the Islamic Consultative Assembly’s Research Center have stated that the actual number of infections and deaths is several times higher than the official figures in Iran. Iraj Harirchi, Deputy Minister of Health of Iran, eight months after the start of coronavirus, on October 14, admitted that the actual death toll from coronavirus varies by province, between 1.5 to 2.2 times higher than the official figures.
The third wave of the coronavirus pandemic in Iran began following the holding of Muharram ceremonies, the nationwide university entrance exam, and the reopening of schools.
Currently, except for three provinces—Hormozgan, Fars, and Golestan, which are on alert status—all other provinces are in red status. Meanwhile, the Iranian government announced restrictions including fines for not wearing masks and travel bans to several Iranian cities, which according to citizens and experts came far too late, were ineffective, and have been implemented incorrectly.
A number of citizens in interviews with Voice of America stated that the Iranian government has failed to adopt the correct and principled approach in combating coronavirus, and now as conditions have become dire, it is blaming its incompetence on the people and intends to collect the fine from them.
The United States has warned since the beginning of coronavirus about the concealment and incompetence of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s officials.
Mike Pompeo, U.S. Secretary of State, said on Friday, February 28, in a session of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, given the history of the Islamic Republic’s concealment, that the Iranian regime is unwilling to provide information about the spread of the coronavirus, and I am concerned that they may be hiding important information.
The critical conditions of coronavirus in Iran continue under circumstances where government officials continue to impose severe media censorship. The newspaper “Jahan Sanat” was among the media outlets that was shut down in mid-August following the publication of an interview with a member of the National Coronavirus Task Force regarding the inaccuracy of Iran’s official statistics.
Source: Voice of America
