AS THE DELTA VERSION SPREADS, IRAN PREPARES FOR THE FIFTH COVID WAVE?
As the Delta version spreads, Iran prepares for the fifth COVID wave.
SOURCE: NEWS AGENCIES
Iran is preparing for another wave of COVID-19 infections as the coronavirus's extremely infectious Delta form spreads across the country's southern and southeastern regions. Hassan Rouhani, Iran's President "There is fear that the nation may face a fifth wave if we are not cautious enough." According to official statistics, the epidemic has killed over 85,000 people in Iran, the worst-affected nation in the Middle East. Iran's President Hassan Rouhani recognised the country's vaccination deficit, but vowed that things will improve in the following weeks. The nation is mostly relying on locally produced products, which are now through different phases of human testing and are anticipated to be given to the general public in the near future. Authorities have said that the majority of the people would be immunised by the end of the current Iranian calendar year in March 2022. However, since the sanctions are creating money-transfer problems for vaccine purchases, in addition to harming Iran's economy, the nation is heavily dependent on imports.
As vaccination efforts languish, concerns of a significant return of coronavirus illnesses increase.
Tehran, Iran (AFP) —
Iran is preparing for another wave of COVID-19 infections as the coronavirus's extremely infectious Delta form spreads across the country's southern and southeastern regions.
President Hassan Rouhani expressed concern on Saturday, noting a decrease in adherence to health measures such as mask use and physical separation.
“There is fear that the nation may face a fifth wave if we are not careful,” he warned during a broadcast session of the anti-coronavirus task group.
According to official statistics, the epidemic has killed over 85,000 people in Iran, the worst-affected nation in the Middle East. In the nation of more than 83 million people, at least 3.23 million cases have been reported.
According to the health ministry's most recent report, 92 counties in nearly half of the country's 32 provinces, including Tehran, are now categorised as "red" on a color-coded scale indicating the intensity of epidemics.
Sistan and Baluchestan, Iran's second-largest province bordering Pakistan and Afghanistan, reports about 1,200 cases and 20 fatalities each day, nearly equaling the entire number of cases and deaths recorded in Pakistan, a nation with a population of more than 220 million people.
To combat the worsening situation, a travel ban to and from 266 cities designated as "red" and "orange" has been implemented, and a restriction on vehicle movement is in place in all cities from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m.
On a Saturday, 70 percent of employees in Tehran's capital, which has a population of more than 12 million throughout the day when commuters also arrive from surrounding regions, are scheduled to work remotely. Physically, essential employees will be operating at half capacity.
Rouhani said in his speech that last month's elections — the presidential vote on June 18 and, particularly, the municipal and village elections that followed – had an impact on the increasing number of cases. The departing president, who will be replaced by Ebrahim Raisi next month, also mentioned summer tourism as a factor.
Despite the growing worries, the country's university entrance examinations, which included over 1.3 million students, started on Wednesday and ended on Saturday.
Slow vaccination deployment
Concerns about the latest wave arise as Iran's immunisation campaign continues to underperform.
According to the health ministry, over 4.5 million individuals have gotten at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccination as of Friday, accounting for about 5% of the entire population.
So far, vaccinations have been given by Russia, China, India, Cuba, and COVAX, an international programme intended to increase vaccine delivery to low-income countries.
However, recurrent delays in the importation of vaccines have resulted in weeks-long gaps in immunisation attempts.
Many videos have surfaced on social media showing lengthy lines with elderly and fragile individuals packed into vaccination centres with little space for physical distance.
On Saturday, Rouhani recognised the problem, but assured that the situation will improve in the coming weeks with the delivery of additional vaccinations.
However, with US sanctions creating money-transfer difficulties for vaccine purchases, in addition to harming Iran's economy, the nation is relying heavily on domestically produced goods.
Two local vaccines have been approved for emergency use, while many more are in different phases of human testing and are likely to be given to the general public in the coming months.
Meanwhile, the chairman of Setad, the organisation overseen by Supreme Leader Ali Hosseini Khamenei that is in charge of producing COVIran Barekat, the first domestically manufactured vaccine, said that 2.7 million doses have been produced and 400,000 vaccines have been given to the health ministry.
Mohammad Mokhber also said that 50 million doses will be produced by the end of September.
Authorities have said that the majority of the people would be immunised by the end of the current Iranian calendar year in March 2022.
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