Outbreak of mutated virus in Khuzestan coincides with 52% increase in deaths in one week
Simultaneously with the announcement of a 52% increase in the number of deaths from coronavirus in Khuzestan over the past week, the Abadan Faculty of Medical Sciences announced the spread of the mutated virus in a number of cities in the province.
Mohammad Alavi, head of the Khuzestan Health Center, said on Tuesday evening, February 18, that compared to last week, COVID-19 cases in the province have increased by 75 percent, hospitalizations by 65 percent, and deaths by 52 percent.
Meanwhile, on Wednesday, February 19, the dean of the Abadan Faculty of Medical Sciences confirmed the identification of the mutated virus in the cities of Shadegan, Abadan, and Khorramshahr, and said that the virus is spreading in the southwestern regions of the province.
So far, the Iranian Ministry of Health has officially announced that 17 patients have been infected with the mutated coronavirus and three citizens have died from the virus, but it seems that the actual number of infected people is higher than these figures, given the virus's transmission power.
The accuracy of the coronavirus statistics in Iran is always subject to serious doubt, and various sources, from domestic political figures to independent observers and experts, believe that the actual number of COVID-19 infections and deaths in Iran is many times higher than the official figures.
According to estimates from the World Health Organization, those infected with the new coronavirus transmit it to an average of 1.5 people, compared to 1.1 for the previous coronavirus.
Hojjatollah Khosravi, the governor of Imam Khomeini Port, announced on Wednesday, February 19, the implementation of quarantine at entry points to this port based on the approvals of the Coronavirus Combat Headquarters.
According to Mr. Khosravi, from today until the end of the red status, the entry of non-local vehicles into this port city will be restricted.
According to the latest report from the Iranian Ministry of Health on Tuesday, the cities of Abadan, Ahvaz, Bandar Mahshahr, Dezful, Dasht-e Azadegan, Shadegan, Shushtar, Karun, and Hoveyzeh are in red status.
The spokesperson for the Coronavirus Combat Headquarters in Khuzestan also said on February 15 that the cities of Ramhormoz, Shush, Omidieh, and Masjed-e-Suleiman in this province are in orange status and the rest of the cities are in yellow status.
According to the resolution of the National Corona Task Force, if the number of hospitalizations in a city is reported to be two out of 100,000 people, the status of that city is blue or "low risk", if four out of 100,000 people are declared, the status of that city is yellow with "medium risk". If this figure reaches six out of 100,000 people, the status of that city is orange and "high risk", and if it is 10 out of 100,000 people, the status of that city is declared red and "very high risk".
Source: Radio Farda
