Reporting by PMOI/MEK
Iran, June 21, 2020—Over 54,600 people have died of the novel coronavirus in 334 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 Sunday afternoon local time, June 21. The official death count declared by the regime stands at 9,623, nearly a sixth of the actual figure.
The death toll in various provinces include: 4,490 in Khuzestan, 3,765 in Qom, 3,095 in Isfahan, 2,950 in Gilan, 2,030 in Lorestan, 1,995 in Sistan & Baluchistan, 1,890 in Alborz, 1,545 in West Azerbaijan, 1,395 in Golestan, and 1,175 in Kurdistan. This is in addition to reports obtained from other provinces.
Over 54,600 dead of coronavirus (COVID-19) in Iran
“Even in provinces where we think we have surpassed the first wave, we have actually not fully experienced the first wave. We need to believe that the novel coronavirus virus is not over, the peak of this illness has not surpassed and that COVID-19 is a sophisticated virus with hundreds of thousands of faces… we will be living with this virus for at least two years,” said Iranian regime Health Minister Saied Namaki on Saturday, according to the regime’s Mizan news agency.
“We had shut down many coronavirus-affected areas but then we relaunched them. Currently, we have a similar situation in the provinces and ten of our provinces are in code red… The second wave has begun, and we must start thinking about the third wave. If conditions continue as it stands we will be engaged with this dilemma until March 2021,” said Masoud Mardani, a member of the National COVID-19 Task Force, on Saturday, according to the Fars news agency, an outlet affiliated to the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC).
“In the past two weeks the number of individuals seeking medical treatment, those hospitalized in general branches and those in the ICU, and also the number of deaths have all been changing… The new wave of COVID-19 patients are placing far more pressure on the entire medical treatment apparatus, especially our medical staff,” said Alireza Zali, head of the COVID-19 Task Force on Sunday, according to the regime’s ISNA news agency.
“The fact that stats are not announced has raised concerns among the people and the fact that each day someone close to us dies has brought with it a sense of fear and concern. In the current circumstances it is necessary for our security forces to prevent gatherings, especially during funerals and weddings, and stand firm against such events,” said the member of the regime’s Majsli (parliament) representing the city of Ahvaz on Saturday, according to the regime’s IRIB news agency. Reports from Khuzestan remain alarming, to say the least.
In Fars province, the deputy dean of Shiraz Medical Sciences University said, “More than 9,500 coronavirus cases have been identified in the province. The province has passed the alarming state and the number of cases is increasing on a daily basis. Since a week ago, we’ve witnessed a dramatic growth in the number of new cases. We’ve relaunched the 100-bed treatment center in Dastgheib Stadium to quarantine the patients. We’ve also set up six makeshift medical centers.” (Source: ISNA and IRNA, June 20)
In Eastern Azerbaijan, the dean of Tabriz Medical Sciences University said, “On average, we’re identifying 350 new coronavirus cases in the province every day. Presently, 33 percent of tests in the province have been positive.” (Source: Fars News Agency, June 20)
In Kurdistan, the dean of the medical sciences university said, “In the past 24 hours, 259 new coronavirus cases have been identified. There are currently 554 coronavirus patients in the hospitals of the province.” (Source: Mehr News Agency, June 20)
In Semnan, the dean of Semnan Medical Sciences University, “Since the beginning of the outbreak, 30 percent of the population of this province have contracted coronavirus.” (Source: Mehr News Agency, June 20)
In Markazi province, the provincial governor said, “In the past 15 days, the number of coronavirus cases and hospitalized patients have seen a five-fold increase and this is dangerous.” (Source: Mehr News Agency, June 20)
In Bushehr, the provincial governor said that hospitals don’t have the capacity to accept more patients and the growing trend is alarming, IRNA reported on Sunday.
Bazkhabar website quoted the deputy health minister as saying, “To counter the spread of coronavirus in Hormozgan, the entire capacity of the hospitals of the State Security Forces and the Revolutionary Guards is being used, and the hospital of the Navy will also be added to the coronavirus hospitals cycle.”
ISNA quoted the provincial governor of Lorestan as saying, “Unfortunately, the spread of the disease is growing in the province, and every day, 190-200 people are contracting the virus.” The state-run Hamshahri Daily quoted the governor of Azna as saying, “The trend of the spread of coronavirus has taken a leap. In five days, 120 new cases were registered.”
Iran coronavirus outbreak death toll interactive map
