The spokesperson for the Ministry of Health announced the number of people infected with the coronavirus at 76,000, while the deputy minister said it was 800,000.
On Wednesday, the spokesman for the Iranian Ministry of Health announced that the number of people infected with the coronavirus in the country had increased to about 76,000, however, the deputy minister of the ministry spoke of an unofficial figure of 800,000.
Kianoush Jahanpour, spokesman for the Ministry of Health, who presented official statistics on the coronavirus in Iran in his daily press conference on Wednesday, May 17, said that in the past 24 hours, 1,512 new patients with coronavirus were identified in Iran, bringing the total number of "confirmed cases" to 76,389.
He also announced the death of 94 patients during this period. So far, according to official statistics from the Ministry of Health, 4,777 people have died from coronavirus in Iran.
According to the Ministry of Health spokesperson, a total of 49,333 patients have recovered and been discharged so far.
Official statistics in recent days indicate a decrease in coronavirus deaths in Iran, but in recent days some officials in the Islamic Republic have acknowledged that the actual number of infected and deceased is much higher than the official figures.
Today, Alireza Raisi, Deputy Minister of Health, announced that it is not possible to accurately estimate all those infected with the coronavirus in any country, saying: "The fact that 800,000 have been infected and that we have several times the announced death toll is definitely true."
He also added: "It is not correct to multiply the official statistics by 2 or 3 or any other number."
However, the statistics that Mr. Raisi presented on Wednesday confirm statistics that were published a day earlier by the Iranian parliament.
Yesterday, the Iranian Parliament Research Center also announced in a report based on estimates that the actual number of deaths is about twice as many and the number of infected is between 8 and 10 times the figures announced by the Ministry of Health.
According to the center's estimated statistics, published on Tuesday, April 16, the number of deaths due to coronavirus is 8,609 and the number of infected people is between 600,000 and 750,000.
The Iranian Ministry of Health has previously explained that their statistics are based on official criteria and the final test results of individuals, and they do not include people who have had or are showing clinical symptoms in their statistics.
According to statistics collected by Radio Farda from scattered statements by local officials and Ministry of Health sources, as of April 12, 141,736 people have been hospitalized or monitored in 31 provinces of Iran due to clinical symptoms of coronavirus.
These statistics also show that 9,156 people have lost their lives in 31 provinces of Iran.
This report is a minimum estimate, and the number of people infected and killed by the coronavirus in Iran may be higher than this number.
Source: Radio Farda
