Reporting by PMOI/MEK
Iran, June 23, 2020—Over 60,400 people have died of the novel coronavirus in 339cities 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, June 23. The official death count declared by the regime stands at 9,863, nearly a sixth of the actual figure.
The death toll in various provinces include: 4,555 in Khuzestan, 3,435 in Khorasan Razavi, 3,045 in Gilan, 3,125 in Isfahan, 1,930 in Alborz, 1,595 in West Azerbaijan, 1,480 in Kermanshah, 1,465 in Golestan, 1,165 in Fars, 545 in Bushehr, 545 in Zanjan, 480 in Hormozgan, and 395 in Ilam. This is in addition to reports obtained from other provinces.
The spokesperson of the regime’s Health Ministry said 121 people died in the past 24 hours. This is the highest official daily death toll in the past 74 days. Following the increase in the number of cases, hospitals and medical treatment centers in most provinces and cities across the country are facing serious shortages and crippling crises.
Over 60,400 dead of coronavirus (COVID-19) in Iran
In Tehran, according to physicians on the ground, the number of people hospitalized in Baghiatollah Hospital from May 21 to June 20 is three times the number registered from April 20 to May 20. More than 290 patients with COVID-19 or similar symptoms seek medical treatment in this hospital on a daily basis. Among the novel coronavirus patients currently hospitalized in this facility, 150 are reported in dire conditions.
During the past few weeks, three more branches of this hospital have been allocated to COVID-19 patients. More than 200 personnel of Baghiatollah Hospital have contracted the virus and at least three have lost their lives. One of the nurses died on June 10.
“During the past 24 hours, the number of patients hospitalized in general sections of Tehran province hospitals has reached a count of 255. The number of patients placed in ICU is 71,” said Alireza Zali, head of Tehran’s COVID-19 Task Force on Saturday, according to the regime’s official IRNA news agency.
In Khuzestan province, according to professors of the Jondi Shahpour Medical Sciences University in the city of Ahvaz, the number of people testing positive for the novel coronavirus in this precinct has reached 30 new cases each day. However, the number of people with symptoms similar to the novel coronavirus, have not been tested and die, or die in their homes are much higher and they are not registered anywhere.
In the city of Shushtar, most parts of the two Sherafat and Khatam al-Anbia have been allocated to COVID-19 patients and at times up to 85 patients are hospitalized in one day. Many members of the medical staff, including the only infectious disease specialist, have contracted the novel coronavirus. The Health Ministry refuses to provide even the minimum budget needed to purchase laboratory supplies for this city’s Medical Sciences University.
According to reports from the medical staff in Babol, Mazandaran province, coronavirus patients are being hospitalized in four hospitals (Rouhani, Beheshti, Yahyanejad, and Amirkala). In previous years, the average number of monthly deaths in these hospitals was 225, but since February, due to the coronavirus outbreak, the number of deaths has surpassed 500. Since March, there has been another hike to the monthly deaths.
In Golestan province, the dean of the medical sciences university said, “The number of incoming coronavirus patients is twice the number of discharged patients. The capacity of hospitals is limited. If the conditions of the disease continue as is, we’ll be facing problems from next week,” the state-run Hamshahri reported. According to the same report, the prosecutor in Gonbad-e Kavus said, “The hospitals are filling and every day, the situation becomes more dangerous.”
In Fars province, the dean of the medical sciences university said, “The number of hospitalized patients is increasing and all the beds in hospitals are filled. In the special care units, there are 30 COVID-19-positive patients.” (Source: Tasnim News Agency, June 22)
Tasnim also reported that the dean of the medical sciences university in Fasa said, “There’s a coronavirus outbreak in Fasa. In one day, we witnessed 69 positive COVID-19 tests… We’re not in a good situation and there are concerns that the patients needing special care will outnumber our medical staff.”
According to the same report, the dean of the medical sciences university in Jahrom said, “We’re faced with a dramatic increase in the number of cases. About 50 percent of daily tests turn out to be positive, while previously, 13 percent of tests were positive.”
According to ISNA news agency, an MP from Bandar Abbas, Hormozgan province, said, “Our recommendation is a two-week shutdown of government offices and a full quarantine… One of the preexisting problems of the province is the shortage of medical equipment and facilities.”
In Lorestan, the president of Borujerd hospital said, “Forty people of the hospital's medical staff have contracted coronavirus. The hospital is faced with a shortage of equipment, human resources, financial resources, and medication… Our colleagues are really exhausted, there’s a shortage of service, support, and security workers, which is causing problems in the treatment of patients.” (Source: IRNA, June 23)
In Ardebil province, the deputy governor said, “According to precise statistical information, 17 percent of the people in Ardebil province have contracted coronavirus and accordingly, there’s a possibility that Ardebil will face another coronavirus peak.” (Source: Fars News Agency, June 22)
Faratak News website quoted the provincial governor of Ilam as saying, “Today, we’re dealing with an unprecedented record in the spread of the disease in the province. We’ve had an emergency meeting and I’m declaring the danger from right here.”
According to the state-run Mehr News Agency, the dean of Kurdistan Medical Sciences University said, “The pace of the spread of the virus in Kurdistan continues to grow. In the past 24 hours alone, 255 new coronavirus cases were identified in the entire province.”
In Markazi province, the dean of the medical sciences university confirmed that the number of new cases in one day has reached the hundreds, Hamshahri reported on Tuesday.
Iran coronavirus outbreak death toll interactive map
