Reporting by PMOI/MEK
Iran, September 8, 2020—Over 100,500 people have died of the novel coronavirus in 427 cities checkered across all of Iran’s 31 provinces, according to reports tallied by the Iranian opposition People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) as of Tuesday afternoon local time, September 8. The official death count declared by the regime stands at 22,542, around a fifth of the actual figure.
The coronavirus death toll in various provinces include: 7214 in Razavi Khorasan, 6642 in Khuzestan, 4589 in Isfahan, 4447 in Lorestan, 4137 in Gilan, 2907 in East Azerbaijan, 2851 in Alborz, 2848 in Golestan, 2831 in Fars, 2694 in West Azerbaijan, 1619 in North Khorasan, 1610 in Kerman, 1356 in Hormozgan, 1303 in Markazi (Central), 1263 in Yazd, 1261 in Bushehr, 712 in Chaharmahal & Bakhtiari, and 582 in South Khorasan. This is in addition to reports obtained from other provinces.
Over 100,500 dead of coronavirus (COVID-19) in Iran
While opposition among the general public, the regime’s experts and even their own officials is escalating regarding the decision to reopen schools, regime officials have been forced to reconsider this decision. “The President said specifically in that session that there is no obligation to return to school. However, all the education experts were very sensitive on schools reopening,” said government spokesman Ali Rabii on Tuesday. “Of course, one can use the ‘Shad’ education network, but we are emphasizing once again that there is no obligation to attend school in person. All the while, the schools are open… students need to remain in contact with the schools, be it physically or online,” he added, according to the ISNA news agency.
“None of the state and non-state schools have the right to obligate students to physically attend class. The students need to choose one of the two methods, attending physically or online,” said Education Minister Mohsen Haji Mirzaee on Monday. We respect the families’ concerns and leave the choice up to them to choose to send their kids to school or attend class online,” he added, according to the semi-official ILNA news agency.
The state-run Hamshahri daily quoted Zahra Sheikhi, the spokesperson for the Majlis (parliament) health commission, as saying, “The many contradictions in the remarks made by officials has confused the families. Many parents say officials are changing their decision every minute and it’s not clear what they’re thinking. Many of my colleagues don’t dare send their children to school. I didn’t send my own kids either.”
Minoo Mohraz, a member of the Coronavirus Task Force said, “The number of cases has increased again. I don’t know how the government is imposing such extra expenses. ICU beds cost several million [tomans] per day. We’re just witnessing the results of bad decisions! Nurses and medical staff in hospitals have become exhausted and can’t carry on. I don’t know how this situation and these actions are justified.” (Source: Alef, September 8)
ILNA news agency quoted Payam Tabarsi, the head of the infectious disease department of Tehran’s Massih Daneshvari hospital, as saying, “If coronavirus becomes widespread and more children need to be hospitalized, we don’t have beds for them… Viral epidemics like the flu usually start from schools. Coronavirus and other viral diseases are no exception. Therefore, there must not be congregations at schools so children don’t transfer the virus to other people.”
The caretaker of Jondishapur Medical Sciences University in Ahvaz, Khuzestan province, said, “The situation in Khuzestan is alarming. Since August 24, the spread of the virus has accelerated. From August 28 to September 5, the number of patients coming to treatment centers has increased from 700 to 1,062.” (Source: Tasnim News Agency, September 7)
The state-run Vatan-e Emrooz wrote on September 8, “Even though the education ministry has declared the presence of students in schools mandatory at the beginning of the academic year, but due to fears of the threat of coronavirus, less than 10 percent of students have attended classes in the past 2-3 weeks…. The people find it very strange that the health ministry has remained silent on the reopening of schools. Before September 5, health officials stressed that presence in crowds of more than 10 people would intensify the spread of Covid-19. But now that 15 million students are to be sent to school, there’s no response from the health ministry.”
Iran coronavirus outbreak death toll interactive map
