Reporting by PMOI/MEK
Iran, June 29, 2020—Over 62,600 people have died of the novel coronavirus in 341 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 Monday afternoon local time, June 29. The official death count declared by the regime stands at 10,670, around a sixth of the actual figure.
The death toll in various provinces include: 4,785 in Khuzestan, 3,970 in Razavi Khorasan, 3,180 in Gilan, 2,295 in Lorestan, 1,990 in Alborz, 1,415 in Hamedan, 780 in Kerman, 585 in Bushehr, 559 in Zanjan, 540 in Qazvin, and 175 in South Khorasan. This is in addition to reports obtained from other provinces.
Spokesperson for the regime’s Health Ministry said on Monday noon local time that 162 people have died of the novel coronavirus in the past 24-hour period. This is the highest daily death toll since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis in Iran. “Since Sunday we have witnessed a significant rise in the numbers of cases and those hospitalized in Tehran, which is concerning… The provinces of Khuzestan, Kurdistan, East & West Azeberbaijans, Hormozgan, Bushehr, Razavi Khorasan and Kermanshah are in code red conditions, and the provinces of Ilam, Lorestan and Golestan are in alarming status,” she said.
Over 62,600 dead of coronavirus (COVID-19) in Iran
“Three out of ten people in Isfahan are coronavirus hosts,” said Mohammad Reza Mahboubfar, a member of the National COVID-19 Task Force. “There will be more deaths as the virus continues to spread across the country. One can say with confidence that two people die every 15 minutes (meaning 192 people each day) from this illness,” he said on Sunday, according to the regime’s Mehr news agency, an outlet affiliated to the Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS).
In Tehran, Task Force chief Alireza Zali said in the past 24 hours 344 people were hospitalized in general sections while 122 were placed in ICU. “The stats in Tehran are changing in a very concerning manner… For the first time the number of our people hospitalized is above those released from our hospitals,” he said on Sunday in an interview with state TV.
“More than five thousand Tehran locals have lost their lives from the beginning of the novel coronavirus outbreak to this day,” said Nahid Khodakarami, head of the Tehran City Council Health Committee, on Sunday, according to the state-run Modara outlet. Prior to this, Zali had said on June 11 that “the number of deaths in Tehran province is far higher than the entire country… the average age of people dying of COVID-19 in Tehran is ten years above the national average.”
Physicians in Lorestan province reported dangerous conditions in Borujerd and Khoramabad. In Selseleh and Delfan, at least 100 people have died of coronavirus and have not been accounted for in official stats. At least 10 percent of nurses have contracted the virus. In the near future, the medical staff will be removed from the treatment cycle due to exhaustion and contamination. Hospitals have a shortage of nurses. The government doesn’t issue permits to hire more nurses, and hospitals only hire nurses for 89 days to avoid insuring them. University management doesn’t have money to buy masks and sanitation material.
In Razavi Khorasan province, the secretary of the Coronavirus Work Group of Mashhad Medical Sciences University declared that the situation in Mashhad is beyond red, IRNA reported. “More than 600 patients have been hospitalized in the hospitals covered by this university, and this is the highest number since the beginning of the outbreak. Between 120 and 150 people are hospitalized every day,” the dean said.
ISNA news agency quoted a member of the scientific council of Mashhad Medical Sciences University as saying, “The conditions in Mashhad are worse than February and March. The emergency section and large parts of the hospital are filled with coronavirus patients. Most of the medical staff have contracted the virus. We have a shortage of medical workers and are under a lot of pressure. According to Asr-e Iran website, the president of the university’s public relations group confirmed that in the past week, the hospital has seen approximately 400 new coronavirus cases and 500 people susceptible to having contracted the virus.
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
In Southern Khorasan province, the manager of the infectious diseases group of Birjand Medical Sciences University said, “The number of COVID-19-positive cases in Southern Khorasan, especially Birjand, has increased considerably… Until now, two ICU sections in Birjand have been filled with coronavirus patients and we are in the process of launching the third one. Two days ago, we launched an ICU section for coronavirus patients in Vali Asr hospital, but until now, it has already been filled.” (Source: ISNA news agency, June 29)
In Khuzestan province, the deputy dean of Ahvaz’s Jondishapur Medical Sciences University said that Khuzestan has been in code-red conditions for six weeks, IRNA reported. “Given the pressure that is on the health and treatment system, we need to impose some restrictions to give the system some breathing space.”
IRNA also quoted the dean of the medical sciences university of Abadan as saying, “The situation in southwest Khuzestan is so bad that if restrictions are not imposed, the number of incoming patients in the region’s hospitals will grow out of control.”
According to reports from physicians in Dezful, in the past eight days, at least 167 coronavirus patients have died in the city’s Ganjavian hospital. This hospital has recorded 624 deaths since February.
In Hormozgan province, the head of Bandar Abbas city council said, “The people are upset with the decisions of government officials… Bandar Abbas still faces a shortage of medical equipment and medical staff. The government’s secrecy in providing different information has resulted in the rights of Bandar Abbas being ignored.” (Source: ILNA, June 28)
