Official Coronavirus Statistics in Iran; Death Toll Approaches 20,000

According to official daily statistics announced by the Health Ministry spokesman, 165 coronavirus patients lost their lives over the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of deaths in Iran to 19,804.

Sima Sadat Lari said on Monday, August 18, that 2,247 new patients were identified during this period, and the total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Iran has reached 345,450.

According to the Health Ministry spokesman, 26 Iranian provinces remain in red or alert status, and 3,773 patients are under intensive care.

Official coronavirus statistics in Iran have consistently been questioned by domestic experts and some official figures such as city council members and parliamentary representatives.

In the latest statement on this matter, the newspaper “Jahan Sanat” reported, citing Mohammad Reza Mahboubfar, who was introduced as a member of the National Coronavirus Task Force, that the mortality rate and number of coronavirus patients in Iran is 20 times higher than the official figures announced by the Health Ministry.

These statistics were denied by official authorities in Iran, and the newspaper Jahan Sanat was also shut down following the publication of this interview.

Source: Radio Farda