Health Ministry Spokesman Reports 76,000 COVID-19 Cases, Deputy Minister Cites 800,000
Iran’s Health Ministry spokesman announced on Wednesday that the number of COVID-19 cases in the country has risen to approximately 76,000, however, a deputy minister of the ministry cited an unofficial figure of 800,000.
Kianush Jahanpour, the Health Ministry spokesman, presented the official COVID-19 statistics during his daily press conference on Wednesday, May 17, stating that 1,512 new COVID-19 patients were identified in Iran in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of “confirmed cases” to 76,389.
He also reported 94 deaths during this period. To date, according to official Health Ministry figures, 4,777 patients with coronavirus have died in Iran.
According to the Health Ministry spokesman, a total of 49,333 patients have recovered and been discharged to date.
Official statistics in recent days show a decline in coronavirus deaths in Iran, but in recent days some Iranian officials have acknowledged that the actual number of cases and deaths is much higher than the official figures.
Today, Alireza Raisi, the Deputy Minister of Health, while stating that it is impossible to accurately estimate all those infected with coronavirus in any country, said: “The fact that 800,000 people were infected and we have several times more deaths than reported figures is certainly true.”
He further added: “Multiplying the official figures by 2 or 3 or another number is not correct.”
Nevertheless, the figures presented by Mr. Raisi on Wednesday confirm statistics that had been released by Iran’s parliament a day earlier.
Yesterday, Iran’s Parliamentary Research Center also announced in a report, based on estimates, that the actual death toll is approximately double and the number of infected cases is between 8 to 10 times the figures announced by the Health Ministry.
Based on the estimated figures from this center, released on Tuesday, May 16, the number of deaths from coronavirus is 8,609 and the number of infected cases is between 600,000 to 750,000.
Iran’s Health Ministry has previously explained that their figures are based on official criteria and confirmed test results from individuals, and they do not include people who have had or have clinical symptoms in their statistics.
Based on statistics compiled by Radio Farda from scattered statements by local officials and Health Ministry sources, until May 12, 141,736 people have been hospitalized or placed under observation due to having clinical symptoms of coronavirus in 31 provinces of Iran.
This statistic also shows that 9,156 people in 31 provinces of Iran have lost their lives.
This report is a minimal estimate and the number of COVID-19 cases and victims in Iran may be higher than this figure.
Source: Radio Farda
