- Iraj Harirchi, regime’s Deputy Health Minister: The situation will undoubtedly get worse. Coronavirus vaccine will not be available any sooner than 12 months.
- Mohammad-Ali Mohseni, parliament deputy, from the Health and Medical Commission: On some days, we had 300 people dying due to Coronavirus, The Health Ministry’s figures do not include those who die at home or on the way to the hospital.
- Alireza Zali, head of the National Coronavirus Combat Taskforce (NCCT) in Tehran: The situation in Tehran is very fragile; the number of patients and dead has been increasing exponentially in the past ten days.
- Epidemiologist, Dr. Hamid Souri, member of NCCT: The average number of deaths in Iran is twice the global average. We rank second in the world in terms of mortality.
- Medical staff at Khorramabad Hospital told the state TV: I have taken 200-300 Coronavirus patients to the mortuary, young and old all died. The beds will not empty even for an hour.
- The average number of deaths in Kermanshah now is 12 times more than last month
The People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) announced on Wednesday, July 8, 2020, that the Coronavirus death toll in 342 cities in Iran had exceeded 67,600. The number of victims in Tehran is 17,050, Khorasan Razavi 4,890, Qom 4,050, Lorestan 2,470, East Azerbaijan 1,970, Kermanshah 1,735, Hamedan 1,575, and Zanjan 650.
The Coronavirus death toll is increasing every day. While the regime is not helping the public combat the virus, Rouhani addressed his cabinet meeting today with general comments and warned the public not to breach health protocols while urging local officials to impose restrictions. He mentioned he does not expect the situation to calm down earlier than August or September.
Iraj Harirchi, the regime’s Deputy Health Minister, told the state news agency, ILNA, today, “We are faced with an unprecedented death toll. Lifting the restrictions in the 30th and 40th minute of the game… has left us with 200 people dying in the past 24 hours. If comprehensive measures are not taken… the situation will certainly get worse… The Coronavirus vaccine will not be available sooner than 12 months.”
Mohammad-Ali Mohseni, parliament deputy, and a member of the Health and Medical Commission told Rouydad 24, on July 5, “In some days, we had 300 people dying to Coronavirus, The Health Ministry’s figures do not include those who die at home or on the way to the hospital.” He acknowledged, “The fear of empty [dinner] tables due to the lockdown of businesses forced people to go back to the streets. It had nothing to do with being hardheaded. Households feared a future when the head of the family could not make ends meet.”
In Tehran, NCCT’s emergency session was held. Alireza Zali, head of NCCT in Tehran, told ISNA, “The situation in Tehran is very fragile. In the past ten days, the number of those infected, dead, and in need of hospitalization has been rising exponentially. All those attending expressed their concern. Referral to medical centers has increased. So, we need more serious intervention.”
An expert of infectious diseases at Taleqani Hospital was quoted by ISNA as saying today, “Hospitals are facing bed restrictions and increase in referrals. The trend presents challenges for the country’s medical system… If the exponential trend of infection is not controlled, it will be impossible to treat new patients and those in critical condition, which will lead to more deaths. Given the fatigue among medical personnel, the health system loses its ability to rebuild itself as far as equipment and personnel are concerned. With the virus spreading with such intensity during the hot season, the level of infection will certainly go up in the cold season.”
Dr. Souri, the professor in epidemiology, told FARS news agency today, “We can’t expect people to prevent spreading the disease just by giving advice and information, then blame the spike of the epidemy on the people. It is not fair. The relevant governments and organizations have to have a proper plan and policy to prevent the spread of the disease and to control Coronavirus with the tools at their disposal … The average number of deaths in our country is about twice the global average. In the world, there are 65 deaths per every million (patients), and in our country, this figure reaches 135… Today, our country ranks second in the world in terms of mortality.”
The Vice president of Tehran University of Medical Sciences was quoted by Mehr News Agency yesterday as saying: “We are returning to the critical days of March …. 485 Coronavirus patients are hospitalized in Tehran’s affiliated hospitals, 177 of whom are in intensive care units … Some patients need special care, and we have to wait for the ICU beds to become vacant.”
In Lorestan, medical staff at Khorramabad Hospital told Aflak TV network yesterday, “I may have taken 200-300 bodies died due to Coronavirus to the mortuary. Young and old have all died. The beds are not vacant, even for an hour. Once a patient is dismissed, we have to admit other patients in the emergency department.”
According to ISNA, the president of the University of Medical Sciences in Kermanshah said yesterday, “The average number of deaths in July this year has increased 12 times compared to March. The average number of hospitalizations in July compared to March has increased 4.3 times.”
In Alborz, the vice president of the University of Medical Sciences told IRNA today, “Since June 3, we have seen an increase in the number of patients. In the past few nights, the number of outpatients and inpatients has increased dramatically, setting a new record, compared to the previous Coronavirus peak in Alborz Province.”
In Ardabil, the vice president of the University of Medical Sciences told IRNA today, “The Coronavirus cases in this Province is increasing rapidly … During the past 24 hours, the Province’s health centers had the highest number of hospitalizations in the last month.”
Secretariat of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI)
July 8, 2020
