Reporting by PMOI/MEK
Iran, September 24, 2020—Over 108,800 people have died of the novel coronavirus in 440 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 Thursday afternoon local time, September 24. The official death count declared by the regime stands at 25,015, around a fifth of the actual figure.
The coronavirus death toll in various provinces include: 26,046 in Tehran, 8022 in Razavi Khorasan, 5299 in Isfahan, 3413 in East Azerbaijan, 3283 in Sistan & Baluchistan, 3111 in Golestan, 3047 in Alborz, 2856 in West Azerbaijan, 1435 in Yazd, and 986 in Qazvin. This is in addition to reports obtained from other provinces.
Infographic-Over 108,800 dead of coronavirus (COVID-19) in Iran
Iranian regime President Hassan Rouhani, the highest regime official after Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei responsible for the Covid-19 crisis in Iran, once again placed the blame on the people. “Unfortunately, the medical professionals’ expectations from people to abide by health protocols have not been met,” he said in a meeting with head of Covid-19 task forces. “From the beginning of this pandemic the government has prioritized providing the needs of the health industry and our medical professionals. This policy will continue,” Rouhani added in a continuation of his daily lies.
“Our success in confronting Covid-19 can be compared to advanced counties(!) Well, there are some people living abroad that are very angry of the fact that we, too, are confronting the novel coronavirus while continuing our economic and cultural activities, and holding our religious ceremonies,” Rouhani continued in his ridiculed remarks. “They wanted us to shut down the country… It is obvious from their anger what they were thinking about… all those people living abroad and [dissident] channels should know that requests to launch industrial activities have increased by 33 percent in the past six months in comparison to last year,” he added in his series of fabrications.
“A heavy fall season will be coming. The wave of a strong attack is forming,” said Health Minister Saied Namaki on Thursday. “It has been months that we have only received a small portion of the one billion euros that [Khamenei] agreed to provide from the National Development Fund. I don’t know what is more important? I have remained silent for people to not get angry. My ill colleagues are asking me what happened to that one billion euros?” he added, according to the state-run Hamshahri daily.
“Our health professionals have not been receiving their paychecks and overtime work. Their paychecks are even less than the minimum wage set by the Labor Ministry. The increasing trend of this virus in the provinces of Isfahan, East Azerbaijan, Qom, and Kohgiluyeh & Boyer Ahmed can be described as explosive,” said Deputy Health Minister Iraj Harirchi on Thursday, according to the Tabnak daily.
“Of the one billion euros from the Development Fund around 27 percent has been allocated to the Health Ministry. Even that amount has been decreased from the Health Ministry’s usual budget. It appears that the money has been spent somewhere else,” said Hossein-Ali Shahriari, chair of the Health Commission in the regime’s Majlis (parliament) on Wednesday. “Our medical professionals are tired. Their paychecks have been delayed for six, eight and even ten months. Arrangements were made for the hiring process of new staff to be sped up. You are not paying those who are currently at work, then you say you want to add 10,000 beds?! There’s only one thing right now and that is recommendations for people to use masks,” he added, according to the regime’s state TV.
According to reports obtained from physicians and nurses in Tehran, hospitals are facing critical conditions.
In the Sina hospital, six ordinary sections and two ICU sections have been allocated to coronavirus patients, and their capacity has been filled. Since July, the number of coronavirus patients has been growing. At least 400 medical staff have contracted coronavirus and 200 of them are hospitalized. The hospital is facing severe financial shortages and can’t cover the costs of its needs. Due to coronavirus, many sections of the hospital have shut down and its income has decreased. The governorate was supposed to provide support, but so far, no payment has been made. The hospital is faced with a shortage of basic supplies for the hospital staff, such as ordinary and N95 masks, gloves, and protective suits.
In the Masih Daneshvari hospital, there are no empty beds, and ICU beds have been filled. Therefore, many critical patients are kept in the ordinary section. The number of daily incoming coronavirus patients has increased from 60 to 230, most of whom are in critical conditions. Even though the medical team at Masih Daneshvari is very strong, there are still seven or eight Covid-19 deaths per day. Some patients die three to four hours after they arrive at the hospital. The situation is even worse in other hospitals.
In Khomeini hospital, at least 250 people died from mid-August to mid-September. The number of incoming patients is increasing every day. By mid-September, there were 10 deaths per day.
In the Loghman Hakim hospital, half of the medical staff have contracted Covid-19. The hospital is faced with a severe shortage of staff.
The state-run Asr-e Iran quoted the dean of Isfahan Medical Sciences University as saying, “Our hospital is not in a good state. Many of the medical staff have contracted coronavirus. Unfortunately, five pregnant mothers died of Covid-19, four of who were in Khomeini Shahr.”
According to the daily Entekhan, the dean of Qom Medical Sciences University confirmed that the province has the highest number of hospitalized patients and death per capita. “Today, 10 coronavirus patients lost their lives and we are worried that the third wave will be harsher than the first peak. There are no volunteer nurses and those who are working are tired. We must expect a disaster in deaths and hospitalized cases.”
Iran coronavirus outbreak death toll interactive map
