Iran’s Health Ministry Reports Slowing Coronavirus Infections

iranwire.com – Starting on Saturday, November 21, extensive restrictions and lockdowns were imposed in numerous cities across Iran. The restrictions went into effect on November 25 in 43 cities and gradually, from November 25, 46 other cities were added to the list. Restrictions were also extended to larger parts of Iran that were under a red state of alert. It has now been a week since these lockdowns began and, according to official statistics and sources, in the past 24 hours the number of confirmed coronavirus fatalities has fallen below 400 for the first time in several weeks.

First Deputy Health Minister Iraj Harirchi predicted that, with a 40 percent fall in fatalities and a 50 percent reduction in the hospitalization of Covid-19 patients by February 20, the number of fatalities would drop to around 300 a day, which is still high, but he believes that if this trend continues it will fall even further.

At this point, in around 145 of the 160 cities under red alert, the number of infections is declining and officials are hopeful that in the remaining 15 cities the rate of infections will follow suit as well.

Alireza Raeesi, spokesman for the National Coronavirus Taskforce, claimed that as of Saturday, November 28, all 89 cities except two that were previously under red alert are now orange or yellow. Raeesi believes that, with the drop in the number of hospitalizations, the number of fatalities will also drop in two or three weeks.

National ID Cards to Identify Coronavirus Positive Cases

Raeesi also announced that, according to a new ordinance by the taskforce, people who visit government offices or who want to use public transportation must carry their national ID cards. He did not specify whether this requirement applies only to people who use public transportation inside cities, between the cities or both.

Last week it was announced that the national ID numbers of individuals who have tested positive for coronavirus within a two-week period will be registered with the Health Ministry and they would be refused services such as traveling by road, trains or planes.

“We are witnessing a considerable drop in traffic inside cities, between cities and in various hours of the day,” Harirchi said, commenting on the effects of the first week of the lockdowns. “Likewise, the gatherings and crowds that violated social distancing has declined noticeably and compliance with heath protocols and guidelines has increased markedly.”

“We have not sent back any patients”

Those who cannot afford private healthcare should go to government hospitals, Harirchi also said, claiming that “we have never refused and will not refuse anybody at government hospitals. Outpatients who cannot afford care – and unfortunately, considering the current economic situation, there are many of them – must definitely go to government centers for treatment.”

“Besides treatments and fatalities, coronavirus has other direct and indirect costs as well,” said Harirchi. “Government hospitals cover at least 90 percent of the costs, and even if a person is not covered by insurance, we insure him as he is in the hospital bed and cover 90 percent of the costs. Outpatient centers are being expanded to 5,000 locations and in all these outpatient centers we provide patients with free tests and medication. With the help of the Basij Organization and the Executive Headquarters of the Imam’s Directive we are also providing people with protective gear such as masks. … But there are still expenses that puts financial pressure on the people, for instance the expenses that people must pay who go directly to the private sector.”

The Health Ministry has also promised that within the next three weeks it will increase the number of coronavirus tests to 100,000 per day.

Provinces Round-up

In Yazd province the number of fatalities has been on an upward trend and on Saturday, November 28, the Yazd Coronavirus Taskforce announced that lockdowns and restrictions will be imposed in the province for one week. “All government and public offices, with the exception of essential services and the hospitals, will be closed,” announced Ahmad Tarahomi, acting director of Yazd Coronavirus Taskforce.

Tarahomi said there will be a curfew on all traffic between 9pm and 4am. Essential businesses such as bakeries, dairy shops, food stalls, supermarkets and take-out-only restaurants and fast food shops are allowed to remain upon until 8:30 pm but other businesses must close at 3:30 pm.

In Bushehr, the provincial Education Bureau announced that, for another week, no schools in the province can hold in-person classes or in-person exams. And Saeed Kashmiri, director of Bushehr Coronavirus Taskforce, reported that in the past three days, from November 25 to 27, nobody had died from confirmed Covid-19 cases in the province.

In Kermanshah, the provincial Governor Houshang Bazvand announced that all government offices in cities under red, orange or yellow states of alert will close starting on Saturday, November 28. All essential services, he said, will work with one-third of their employees, but this number can be increased to 50 percent at the discretion of managers. “Rain has been predicted in the coming days and, therefore, all managers of executive agencies must be present at their workplaces,” he added.

The number of coronavirus infections and fatalities in Kermanshah has declined and in the past 24 hours only five confirmed Covid-19 cases passed away. Currently 813 coronavirus patients are hospitalized across the province and the total death toll for Kermanshah stands at 1,245.

The Alborz University of Medical Sciences announced that, in the past 24 hours, 79 Covid-19 patients were hospitalized in the province, bringing the total number of hospitalizations in Alborz to 842 people. In recent weeks Alborz had witnessed a sharp rise in the number of coronavirus fatalities and in just one day more than 20 patients with Covid-19 had died, but in the past 24 hours this number fell to nine. The total death toll in the province now stands at 2,278.

Iran’s Latest Coronavirus Statistics

In her daily briefing for November 28, health ministry’s spokeswoman Dr. Sima Sadat Lari announced the official coronavirus statistics for the past 24 hours:

Dr. Lari also reported that all 31 Iranian provinces are in red, orange or yellow states of alert.

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