Spread of Coronavirus in Iran and Contradictory Statements by Islamic Republic Officials
Contrary to the statements of Hassan Rouhani, the president of the Islamic Republic of Iran, regarding a “white condition” and orders to resume business in some Iranian cities, some local officials have made differing statements and announced that the spread of coronavirus in Iran is not “normal.”
The spread of coronavirus and the ineffectiveness of Islamic Republic officials in preventing widespread transmission of this virus in Iran has caused serious damage to Iran’s economy.
For example, the official news agency of the Islamic Republic reports that Mazandaran, as Iran’s most tourism-friendly province, has suffered serious losses due to coronavirus outbreak, and the economic situation of a significant portion of the province’s population, which depends directly and indirectly on tourism, has faced difficulties.
It is worth noting that despite the support some countries provide to their citizens against unemployment caused by the coronavirus outbreak and payment of allowances for people’s livelihoods, the Islamic Republic has recently introduced a new plan that has faced negative reaction from many Iranian citizens, intending to provide a one million toman loan to 23 million beneficiary households; a loan with an interest rate of 12 percent.
Since the widespread outbreak of coronavirus began in December 2019 across Iran, Islamic Republic officials, including the President of Iran, have repeatedly attempted in numerous speeches to downplay the situation of Iranian citizens contracting this virus and to announce incorrect figures for the number of infected and deceased.
Vahid Ghobadi Dana, head of Iran’s Welfare Organization, announced on Sunday, April 13, 2020, at a press conference held via video conference at the Ministry of Health, that so far only 1.7 percent of all Iran’s welfare centers, approximately 45 welfare centers, have been contaminated with coronavirus; this figure was released by the head of the country’s welfare organization while the head of the Qaemshar welfare office reported the identification of 28 vulnerable centers in just this city alone.
On the other hand, the head of the welfare office in Qaemshar announced that the mobile inspection team of this office has provided necessary training to cardboard sleepers, street children, and working children to combat coronavirus.
However, news and videos published on social networks indicate working children or scavenging individuals in various Iranian cities who have no information about coronavirus and how this vulnerable group contracts it, and do not even know how they can protect themselves from the risk of contracting this virus.
On the other hand, while other countries in the world are trying to find a way to eradicate this virus, Iranian officials are seeking to implement a new plan for the burial of deceased individuals infected with this virus in a morgue of one of Iran’s cemeteries.
The deputy head of city services of the Tehran Municipality announced in the latest session of the Tehran City Council about the beginning of design and construction of an equipped and isolated disinfection center aimed at increasing the capacity for receiving bodies in critical situations at the location of crisis warehouses, and continuous monitoring of the purification system of the Behesht-e Zahra disinfection halls by the Water and Wastewater Company.
The launch of this plan was announced by this government official while, according to existing reports, the condition of Iran’s hospitals and people’s access to hygiene supplies such as masks and disinfectants has been declared inappropriate.
The Islamic Republic of Iran announced the first death from coronavirus on February 20, 2020; while later, with the publication of statements by some individuals affiliated with the Iranian government, it became clear that officials had knowledge of the disease’s spread before that date.
Islamic Republic officials, by Monday, April 14, 2020, officially announced 4,585 deaths and the total number of infected reached 73,303. This figure comes as a World Health Organization official stated that the figures announced by Iranian officials regarding coronavirus patients represent only one-fifth of actual cases.
The U.S. Secretary of State said on Tuesday, February 25, 2020, that we are concerned that Iran may have covered up the spread of coronavirus in the country. He again said on Friday, February 28, 2020, that he is concerned about Iran’s cover-up.
On the other hand, Mike Pompeo, U.S. Secretary of State, proposed full cooperation to provide assistance to the Iranian people. However, the Iranian regime rejected this proposal. The U.S. Secretary of State stated on April 5, 2020: “Khamenei’s lies about the Wuhan virus endanger people’s lives.”
Source: Voice of America
