An Iranian Official Reveals: Real COVID-19 Death Toll in Iran Exceeds 800 per Day
While Iran’s Ministry of Health continues to report daily COVID-19 deaths at 330 people, a member of the scientific committee of Iran’s coronavirus task force has stated that the actual death toll from coronavirus in Iran is two and a half times higher than the officially announced figures.
While the U.S. State Department had previously warned multiple times about the Iranian regime’s concealment of actual figures for coronavirus cases and deaths, a member of the scientific committee of the coronavirus task force announced on Tuesday, October 20, that the death toll reported on Monday as 337 people was actually over 800 people.
The severity of the coronavirus pandemic in Iran continues following a warning issued by the U.S. State Department spokesperson last week. After a new record was set for daily deaths on Monday, Iran’s Health Ministry announced that the number of daily cases on Tuesday reached 5,039.
The accuracy of figures announced by the Islamic Republic, like those of China and Russia, is highly questionable. Based on available evidence and documented contradictions in figures released by various institutions, it can be said that accurate information is not being provided regarding the actual number of cases and deaths. The World Health Organization and even the Islamic Parliament’s research center have stated that the actual number of cases and deaths is several times higher than the official figures in Iran. Last week, Iraj Harirchi, Deputy Health Minister of Iran, admitted eight months after the start of coronavirus that the actual death toll from coronavirus varies by province between 1.5 to 2.2 times the official figures. Now Masoud Mardani, a member of the scientific committee of Iran’s coronavirus task force, believes the actual figures are 2.5 times higher.
The third wave of the coronavirus pandemic in Iran began following the observance of Muharram ceremonies, the holding of university entrance exams, and the reopening of schools.
Currently, except for three provinces—Hormozgan, Fars, and Golestan—which are in alert status, all other provinces are in red status. In this situation, the Iranian government announced restrictions including fines for not wearing masks and travel bans to several Iranian cities, which citizens and experts believe came too late and were ineffective and poorly implemented..
A number of citizens, in conversations with Voice of America, stated that the Iranian government has failed to adopt correct and principled methods to combat coronavirus, and now as conditions worsen, it is blaming the people for its ineffectiveness and intends to collect fines from them.
The United States has warned about the concealment and inability of Islamic Republic officials since the start of coronavirus..
Mike Pompeo, U.S. Secretary of State, said on Friday, February 28, in a meeting of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, that given the history of concealment by Islamic Republic officials, the Iranian regime has no desire to provide information about the coronavirus outbreak, and I am concerned they have hidden important information..
The critical condition of coronavirus in Iran continues amid severe media censorship being imposed by government officials. The newspaper “Jahan Sanat” was among the media outlets that was shut down in mid-August following the publication of an interview with a member of the national coronavirus task force regarding the inaccuracy of Iran’s official figures.
Source: Voice of America
