Simultaneous circulation of Delta and Omicron variants in some regions of Iran
COVID-19 continues to spread rapidly in Iran. Over 25,000 new cases have been registered in the past 24 hours. Children’s hospitals in Tehran are on high alert.
Iran’s Ministry of Health’s Public Relations and Information Center announced that in the 24 hours ending on Esfand 26 (February 15), based on definitive diagnostic criteria, 25,034 new COVID-19 patients were identified in the country, of whom 2,768 were hospitalized.
With this, the total number of COVID-19 cases in Iran has exceeded 6.86 million.
The simultaneous circulation of both Delta and Omicron variants of the coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) could be one of the reasons for the rising hospital admission rates. According to the Ministry of Health’s Public Relations and Information Center, 3,489 patients are hospitalized in intensive care units.
The deputy director of treatment at Tehran Province’s coronavirus task force estimated that 80 to 85 percent of cases in Tehran are related to the Omicron variant, while 10 to 15 percent are infected with the Delta variant.
According to Nader Tavakoli, the possibility of lung involvement in patients infected with Delta is high. These individuals, as well as those with underlying diseases, obesity, or those who are unvaccinated and have become infected, may require hospitalization.
Tavakoli stated: “The trend of infections in Tehran is increasing and we have not yet reached the peak.”
He stressed that the simultaneous circulation of both coronavirus variants has made predictions difficult, but “perhaps we will reach the peak by the end of Esfand and the first week of Farvardin month.”
The condition of one-quarter of new patients is critical
The deputy director of treatment at Tehran Province’s coronavirus task force also said that the number of outpatient visits in one day was around 18,000 people, of whom 1,200 were hospitalized and the condition of one-quarter of them is critical.
He announced the total number of hospitalizations in Tehran’s hospitals as 4,266.
Tavakoli described the coronavirus situation in Tehran as critical and said that despite this, there is no problem in terms of hospital beds.
According to him, the number of children infected with coronavirus has increased and children’s hospitals are on full alert.
He clarified: “15 to 20 percent of infections are in people under 10 years old. In general, contrary to the old variants, 50 percent of hospitalizations are people under 50 years old.”
The highest mortality rate from coronavirus continues to be in people over 60 years old.
During the 24 hours ending on Esfand 26 across Iran, 167 COVID-19 patients died. Accordingly, the total number of deaths from this disease has reached over 134,000.
Currently, 247 cities are in red status, 112 cities are in orange status, and 89 cities are in yellow status.
Source: DW
