Reporting by PMOI/MEK
Iran, August 17, 2020—Over 90,100 people have died of the novel coronavirus in 392 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, August 17. The official death count declared by the regime stands at 19,804 around a fifth of the actual figure.
The coronavirus death toll in various provinces include: 3951 in Isfahan, 3772 in Gilan, 3732 in Lorestan, 2886 in Sistan & Baluchistan, 2670 in Alborz, 2543 in Fars, 2304 in Hamedan, 1794 in Kurdistan, 1388 in Kerman, 1189 in Hormozgan, 1110 in Bushehr, 725 in Ilam, and 510 Kohgiluyeh & Boyer Ahmed. This is in addition to reports obtained from other provinces.
Over 90,100 dead of coronavirus (COVID-19) in Iran
If this month’s annual mourning ceremonies are held indoors “the situation may get out of control again and this will inflict irreputable damages,” said Deputy Health Minister Alireza Raisi on Saturday, August 15, according to the regime’s state TV.
Head of the National Emergency Organization said emergency calls have quadrupled during the Covid-19 pandemic. “Currently, after six months, our colleagues remain on full alert and have not had a leave. 1900 of our coworkers have been contaminated with coronavirus and four have lost their lives,” he said on Monday, according to the semi-official ILNA news agency.
“During the past 24 hours 12 individuals have lost their lives to Covid-19,” said the deputy dean of Shiraz Medical Sciences University in Fars province on Sunday. “According to the latest statistics, one in each three tests conducted is positive. Shiraz and a number of other cities in this province are in red status,” he added, according to the Mehr news agency, affiliated to the Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS).
“In the past few days based on orders from the Provincial Covid-19 Task Force, all main doors and entrances to the Arak cemetery have been blocked,” said the Arak Cemetery Organization director on Monday. “These measures were finalized today, and all breaches have also been blocked,” he added, according to the semi-official ISNA news agency.
Sanandaj, western #Iran
Beheshte Mohammadi CemeteryThe city is in code red conditions. The number of new #COVID19 cases & deaths have increased significantly. pic.twitter.com/TJGv6sYOi2
— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) June 30, 2020
In Eastern Azerbaijan, the dean of Sarab Medical Sciences University said, “If the current situation and the spread of coronavirus persists, we will be faced with a shortage of hospital beds in upcoming days.” (Source: Javan, August 16)
The commander of the State Security Forces in Razavi Khorasan province confirmed 1,000 coronavirus cases among SSF troops, according to the state-run Sobh-e Mashhad daily. The security official also expressed concern that calls for anti-regime protests have tripled in recent weeks.
The spokesperson of the health ministry in Kerman province said, “In Kerman province, the number of new cases and hospitalized patients have been increasing since June and reached its peak in July and August. The conditions of the epidemic in Kerman is still fragile, volatile, and worrying. Currently, 11 counties in Kerman, including Bardsir, Bam, Rafsanjan, Kerman, and Manujan, are in code-red conditions, and seven other counties, including Jiroft, Ravar, Shahr-e Babak, and Kahnuj, are in alarming conditions.” (Source: IRNA, August 17)
The state-run Mostaghel quoted former science minister Mostafa Moein as saying, “When the we hear multiple and contradictory remarks about a crisis as expansive and dangerous as the coronavirus outbreak, or when there are contradictions between the remarks and actions of officials, we can’t hope for a scientific solution and national cooperation among the people to deal with this crisis. Who will accept responsibility for an impending human catastrophe across the country? The president? The government? The Majlis? The health and science minister?”
Etemad, another state-run newspaper, described the truth about the coronavirus stats as such: “The government sees the truth in its own exclusive purview, and considers what it declares as the truth. Others are not allowed to make remarks. This is unacceptable… If there’s no transparency, you will be dealt a blow where you can’t defend yourself.”
Iran coronavirus outbreak death toll interactive map
