Coronavirus in Iran; 385 new cases in the past 24 hours

New figures on coronavirus infections in the past 24 hours indicate the rapid spread of the disease in Iran. The German news agency writes in a report on the current situation on the eve of Nowruz and that representatives of foreign media are planning to leave Tehran.

Kianoush Jahanpour, head of the Public Relations and Information Center of the Ministry of Health, announced on Sunday, March 1, that the number of new confirmed cases of coronavirus from yesterday afternoon to today is 385. According to Jahanpour, 54 people have lost their lives due to the virus in the past 24 hours.

Thus, the number of confirmed cases of the new coronavirus in Iran is 987, according to official statistics.

According to newly released statistics, the highest number of new cases of the virus in recent days has been in Tehran province; 170 cases from yesterday to today. According to Kianoush Jahanpour, in Markazi province, with 44 cases in the past 24 hours, the conditions for the rapid spread of the disease are more severe than in other provinces of the country.

Markazi Province borders Qom Province to the east and Tehran Province to the northeast.

The city of Qom, known as the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in Iran, has the highest number of infections after Tehran and Markazi, with 30 new cases of coronavirus in the past 24 hours.

According to the head of the Public Relations and Information Center of the Ministry of Health, 175 patients with the disease have recovered and been discharged so far, which, according to Jahanpour, is "a significant number."

The German news agency, in a report from Tehran, referring to the new statistics, writes: "Contrary to the predictions of the Iranian Ministry of Health, the situation in Iran has deteriorated significantly in recent days. The army and the IRGC have also come to the aid of the government in combating the coronavirus in Iran."

Disinfecting cities with Army Ground Force equipment

Today, Sunday, March 1, domestic news agencies reported the launch of the Jihadi headquarters to combat the coronavirus in the Army Ground Forces Health and Medical Services Department. The description of the headquarters' activities states that all affiliated units, including regional and field hospitals, health treatment centers, and combat battalions, will provide their doctors, medical assistants, nurses, and paramedics to the Crisis Headquarters and the Provincial Universities of Medical Sciences.

The description of the measures also mentions decontamination and cleaning (disinfection) with ground force equipment in crowded city centers.

Some social media users have also posted images of the NAJA special unit's water-spraying vehicles disinfecting cities.

“Some foreign media outlets are closing their offices in Tehran”

According to the German news agency, with the increasing trend of the spread of the Corona virus in Iran, many foreign nationals currently in Iran have decided to leave Iran on the advice of their countries' foreign ministries. The report also writes about the intention of some foreign media representatives to leave Iran and the temporary closure of their offices in Tehran.

“Corona’s blow to well-to-do Iranians on the eve of Nowruz”

The German news agency, referring to the arrival of Nowruz, considers “the coronavirus outbreak in the country a severe blow” for Iran. The “DEPA” correspondent writes: “For fear of being infected with the coronavirus, Iranians, who are usually sociable, are avoiding any contact, even with their relatives. Shops and restaurants are almost empty of customers. Since the coronavirus is currently a serious threat in the provinces bordering the Caspian Sea, a popular destination for Iranians during the Nowruz holidays, the country’s tourism industry has also been affected by the coronavirus outbreak. Cinemas, theaters, schools and universities have been closed.”

The report refers to the shortage of disinfectants and writes: "While the government claims that production of these materials has increased sharply, neither pharmacies nor stores have disinfectants. The price of alcohol for disinfection has increased by up to 10 times, according to customers."

Where did the problem with masks and disinfectant gel start?

The problem of supplying masks and disinfectants began from the very first days of the official announcement of the arrival of the coronavirus in Iran.

Domestic media reports that the rush of people to purchase masks and disinfectants emptied the shelves of pharmacies starting on March 2nd, so that by March 2nd, most people could only obtain industrial alcohol, which also became scarce on March 2nd.

News reports have cited the Ministry of Health's directive banning the new supply of these items in pharmacies as the most important reason for the market turmoil, in addition to profit-seeking activities and product hoarding.

According to the Ministry of Health's explanation on March 29, the Ministry of Health's priority in the early days of the spread of the coronavirus was to provide masks and disinfectants to medical centers.

Warning against the use of counterfeit items

On the other hand, the country's health authorities are warning against the use of counterfeit items in the market. Dr. Farzad Pirvian, deputy director of food and drug administration at Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, warned people on Sunday about the dangers and side effects of using these substances, referring to the distribution of methanol or wood alcohol as disinfectant alcohol in some centers and shops.

Officials have promised that in the next day or two, the supply of masks and disinfectants will be sufficient and the market will be saturated.

Source: DW