Six Thousand Tehran Medical Staff Infected with COVID-19, Increase in Critical Patients

Approximately six thousand healthcare workers at medical centers in Tehran have been infected with COVID-19. The Ministry of Health has warned about the consequences of “fatigue among medical staff.” Tehran Province is in a red situation and local officials have proposed that restrictions be extended.

The Deputy for Education and Research of the Medical Council Organization says that given the increase in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations of patients with COVID-19 in recent days, conditions for medical staff have become “more acute” and infections among them are very high.

According to ILNA news agency, Alireza Salimi said on Wednesday, August 6, referring to the worsening situation in the capital, approximately six thousand medical staff in Tehran have been infected with COVID-19 and so far 150 of them have lost their lives.

This situation in other cities and provinces of Iran is proportionate to their population in a similar manner. Mohammad Karimian, Head of Ilam University of Medical Sciences, announced yesterday that 657 health and medical staff in this province have been infected with COVID-19.

Ilam Province has a population of less than 600,000 people, and the metropolis of Tehran has approximately 9 million people according to estimates by the Statistical Center. Hossein Mohsenazadeh, Director of Mashhad Specialized Children’s Hospital, told IRNA on Wednesday that out of a total of 500 staff members at this medical center, 80 have been infected with COVID-19.

Concerning Fatigue of Medical Staff

The Ministry of Health spokesperson warned about medical staff fatigue at a press conference on August 6 and called it “one of the concerns and worrying issues these days.” He urged people to observe health recommendations to reduce work pressure on employees in this sector.

According to Sima Sadat Lari, in the 24-hour period ending at noon on Wednesday, 2,697 new COVID-19 cases were identified in Iran and 185 patients with COVID-19 lost their lives.

Thus, the total number of COVID-19 infected people in Iran reached 317,483 and the death toll reached 17,802.

Lari says that out of 31 provinces in Iran, as it has been in recent days, 14 provinces remain in a red situation and 12 provinces are in a warning situation.

Increase in Critical Patients, Shortage of ICU Beds

According to IRNA, the Deputy of the Medical Council Organization said at a press conference for the “National Campaign of Solidarity with Health Defenders” that the pattern of hospital referrals in relation to COVID-19 has changed compared to the month of Esfand, and now visitors “are generally critically ill people who need intensive care beds, which is why we are facing a shortage of intensive care beds.”

Alireza Salimi said: “One of the current serious shortages is the problem of human resource shortages in intensive care units, and these personnel are tired and exhausted, fatigue lowers the body’s immunity and the possibility of infection increases despite personal protective equipment.”

Referring to the fact that in all countries of the world, the possibility of infection for those on the frontlines of COVID-19 patient care is several times higher than ordinary people, he added that in Iran, ICU workers are three times more likely to be infected with COVID-19 than ordinary people.

In recent days, the recent statements of President Hassan Rouhani about the necessity of holding “magnificent” mourning ceremonies during Muharram month even in red-situation cities have faced many criticisms.

Rouhani said at the National Coronavirus Response Headquarters meeting on Saturday that Muharram ceremonies must be held while observing health guidelines. Critics argue that such ceremonies do not allow for observance of health recommendations such as physical distancing.

Restrictions and Limitations for Muharram Ceremonies

Eiroj Harirchi, Deputy Minister of Health, announced on Wednesday the preparation of guidelines on how to hold Muharram ceremonies, which have been coordinated with councils, officials, the Islamic Propaganda Organization, and other relevant centers.

According to ISNA, referring to the prohibition of certain specific ceremonies in provinces, he said: “Carpet sweeping, palm frond ceremonies, processions we saw in Bushehr and Khuzestan, the basin-laying ceremonies in Ardabil and Zanjan, and so on will not be held this Muharram.”

The Deputy Minister of Health, stating that 80 thousand councils are active in Iran, said that eight thousand health ministry inspectors have been assigned to monitor the observance of health points in mourning ceremonies. He also encouraged citizens to hold ceremonies in small groups and family gatherings according to the motto “every household is a Husseini.”

Nevertheless, given the continued red and warning situation in most provinces, some local officials have called for imposing or extending COVID-19 restrictions.

Alireza Zali, Commander of Tehran’s COVID-19 Response Operations Center, says that this center and the Tehran Provincial Government have submitted a proposal to the security, police, and social committee of the Interior Ministry to extend restrictions in the capital for another week and hope it will be approved.

Zali meanwhile announced a reduction of about ten percent in COVID-19 death statistics in the current week compared to the previous week. The Ministry of Health typically does not publish detailed statistics of cities and provinces regarding COVID-19 infections and deaths.

Over the past three days, the total death toll from COVID-19 across Iran has decreased from 215 to 185 people. Since the beginning of Mordad month until now, only in four days has the death toll been less than 200 people.

Source: DW