Reporting by PMOI/MEK
Iran, February 18, 2021—Over 217,200 people have died of the novel coronavirus in 480 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 Wednesday afternoon local time, February 17. The official death toll declared by the regime stands at 59,184 around a third of the actual figure.
The coronavirus death toll in various provinces include: 51,946 in Tehran, 14,510 in Razavi Khorasan, 13,935 in Isfahan, 10,955 in Khuzestan, 9127 in Mazandaran, 8923 in Lorestan, 8203 in East Azerbaijan, 6532 in Fars, 5493 in Alborz, 5171 in Sistan & Baluchistan, 3747 in Kurdistan, 4824 in Kerman, 3348 in North Khorasan, 3310 in Semnan, and 2419 in Qazvin. This is in addition to reports obtained from other provinces.
Infographic-PMOI/MEK reports over 217,200 coronavirus (COVID-19) deaths in Iran
“Considering the fast spread of the mutated UK strain of coronavirus in Khuzestan province, orders needs to be issued for all of the province’s border crossings be closed until further notice,” said Health Minister Saied Namaki on Wednesday, according to the regime's official IRNA news agency.
“The mutated UK strain that is spreading now is more dangerous than the previous Covid-19 virus and kills the patient in three days,” said Minoo Mohraz, a member of the National Covid-19 Task Force on Wednesday, according to the state controlled Fararu media outlet.
“The UK strain is up to 70 percent more powerful than the previous Covid-19 strain to transfer to other individuals. This can be catastrophic,” said a member of the Medical Apparatus Organization’s High Council on Tuesday, according to the regime's official IRNA news agency.
“At least 60 to 70 percent of the population, meaning around 55 million people need to be vaccinated. However, for the last vaccination phase that includes the entire population, the Health Ministry lacks the ability to carry out such an initiative.
“To this day 24 patients have been identified to have contracted the mutated UK strain, of which two have died,” said an official in Tehran’s Masih Daneshvari Hospital on Wednesday. “In mid-March we may witness the worst peak in our history if we do not abide by protocols. The only solution to prevent this virus from spreading is to break the chain reaction. It is estimated that after June when the Iranian vaccine is approved for mass production, we hope ordinary people can also be vaccinated. Some of our fellow countrymen will risk this thread with their lives, pay money and go to neighboring countries such as the UAE to receive the vaccine. However, in this process they may be contaminated with Covid-19,” this official explained, according to the semi-official ISNA news agency.
The dean of Ahvaz Medical Sciences University declared an emergency across Khuzestan province in order to break the virus’ chain reaction. In the past two weeks numerous cases of the mutated UK strain have been identified, which is genuinely concerning, this official added on Wednesday. “If the status quo continues we will not be able to provide further care in our medical centers. Signs indicate clearly that a new epidemic is in the making… One host can easily contaminate several dozen others. Not only are our hospitals full but even our new hospitals are being allocated to coronavirus patients,” this official added, according to the regime's official IRNA news agency.
June 27 – Yasuj, south-central #Iran
Head of a local hospital says the facility is full of #COVID19 patients.pic.twitter.com/Vd9iU4L1Kq— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) June 28, 2020
On Wednesday, the dean of Abadan Medical Sciences University confirmed cases of the UK strain in the cities of Shadegan, Abadan and Khorramshahr, all in southwest Iran. “This virus is dangerous and is spreading fast in the southwest areas of Khuzestan province. Ten cities are now considered red zones and we are concerned that the number of these cities will increase,” this official added, according to the regime's official IRNA news agency.
“All branches of [Amir Al-Momeneen Hospital in Ahvaz] have been prepared to accept Covid-19 patients,” said the hospital chief on Tuesday, according to the semi-official ISNA news agency.
“One by one the capacity of our hospitals are reaching their limits, and we are concerned that in the coming days and weeks Khuzestan’s hospitals will not be able to provide medical care to coronavirus patients,” said the spokesperson of the Khuzestan Covid-19 Task Force on Wednesday, according to the semi-official ISNA news agency.
“Even the thought of a fourth Covid-19 peak is horrific,” said governor of Alborz province on Tuesday, according to the regime's official IRNA news agency.
“If we are engulfed by this virus in the fourth wave it can quickly fill all of the beds we have prepared for Covid-19 patients across the province,” said the deputy dean of Kermanshah Medical Sciences University on Wednesday, according to the semi-official ISNA news agency.
“Two cases of the mutated UK strain have been identified and are confirmed,” said the dean of Ilam Medical Sciences University on Wednesday, according to the regime's official IRNA news agency.
Iran coronavirus outbreak death toll interactive map
