Coronavirus Crisis in Iran; Infection Record Broken, Patients Sleeping on Hospital Floors

Coronavirus infection statistics have broken another record in Iran. The death toll is also rising amid limited vaccination efforts. Officials are reporting that the fifth wave peak is approaching. In Golestan, coronavirus patients are sleeping on hospital floors.

According to Health Ministry officials, on Monday, July 26, the total number of COVID-19 patients in Iran reached 3,723,246 people.

In the past 24 hours, 322 people died from coronavirus in Iran and 31,814 new coronavirus patients were identified, of whom 3,566 were hospitalized. This infection figure has broken previous records. The total number of coronavirus deaths in Iran has reached 89,122 people.

Currently, 232 cities in the country are in red status, 117 cities in orange status, and 99 cities in yellow status.

These figures reflect the current state of coronavirus situation in Iran.

According to Johns Hopkins University data, Iran is one of the coronavirus-prone countries in the world and ranks 13th globally.

What vaccines are being administered in Iran?

So far, 8,141,852 people have received the first dose of coronavirus vaccine and 2,426,697 people have also received the second dose.

Iranian authorities have not provided information about the types of vaccines being administered—whether they are Chinese, Russian, or Iranian—but it can be clearly stated that among the vaccines administered in Iran, there is no trace of three of the world’s most credible vaccines.

The entry of BioNTech-Pfizer coronavirus vaccine, a joint product of German and American companies, Moderna vaccine from the American company, and Oxford’s AstraZeneca vaccine, which is a joint production of Britain and Sweden, was banned after Khamenei’s opposition. Later, it was announced that the use of AstraZeneca produced by countries other than Britain is permitted.

“We Are Approaching the Peak of the Fifth Wave”

The current coronavirus situation has particularly concerned scientific experts and the country’s medical staff.

Dr. Alireza Naji, a member of the COVID-19 scientific committee, in assessing the coronavirus situation in the country says: “In the coming days, considering what we are seeing and given that compliance is poor, we will likely see an increase in the number of deaths, and I think we will be dealing with the fifth wave for a long time; because the delta variant is highly transmissible and we are not making sufficiently strong and appropriate decisions against it.”

According to Naji, despite the color-coding of cities as red, people’s traffic continues. Naji does not paint a favorable future with “behaviors and travels of recent days,” but he says: “I think we have not yet reached the peak of the fifth wave and perhaps we are approaching it.”

Naji questions why shopping centers and restaurants should remain open under red coronavirus conditions.

“Coronavirus Patients in Golestan Slept on Hospital Floors”

Gholamali Kouhsari, Golestan representative, on Monday, July 26, said that some hospitals lack the capacity to admit patients and patients are sleeping on floors, with 800 people also receiving outpatient treatment.

This representative cried out in parliament: “Let someone help the people of this province. Unfortunately, there is no control over entrances and exits, and water and electricity cuts have added to the problem.”

Abedini: Families Pay Coronavirus Fines as Bribes

Dr. Atefeh Abedini, secretary of the country’s scientific committee, says that the six-day closure of Tehran and Alborz to combat coronavirus caused the spread of patients from Tehran to northern cities.

The secretary of the country’s scientific committee added: “When quarantine is mentioned, it means people should stay home, but we see this is being confused with traveling.”

Abedini emphasizes that fines are also considered for movement, but people prefer to pay the fine even as a bribe, but will definitely go on a trip.

Coronavirus has also spread widely within Tehran and the number of deaths and hospitalizations in the capital has increased.

Alireza Zali, commander of coronavirus control operations in Tehran, has reported the worsening of coronavirus situation and the hospitalization of more than 9,000 people in Tehran.

According to Zali, of this number, 2,500 people are hospitalized in intensive care units. Zali has warned about the possibility of a shortage of new beds for coronavirus patients.

Source: DW