One of the worst hit countries by the coronavirus pandemic, Iran on Monday announced almost 3,000 new coronavirus infections, its highest daily count in two months, as it warned of another “dangerous peak” in the Middle East’s deadliest outbreak. The Persian Gulf country has been badly damaged by the virus. Coronavirus cases in Iran have added insult to its already hefty economic injury amid heavy sanctions by the United States over its nuclear program.
“People seem to think the coronavirus is over… some officials also believe everything” is back to normal, said Health Minister Saeed Namaki.
“The coronavirus is not only far from over, but we could at any moment see (another) dangerous peak,” he said in a televised interview.
Coronavirus cases in Iran break records
Ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour raised Iran’s caseload to 154,445 with 2,979 new infections recorded in the past 24 hours.
He added that the virus had claimed another 81 lives in the past day, up by 18 compared with Sunday and raising the total to 7,878.
Read more: Scholar of Iran calling coronavirus ‘divine punishment’ got infected himself
According to Namaki, the provinces of Sistan and Baluchistan, Kermanshah, and Hormozgan are currently struggling with surges in infections.
Iran reports 2,979 new covid19 cases, its highest daily cases in second wave. Iran has 78% recovering rate with second outbreak hitting hard again. pic.twitter.com/CEln9euwLN
— MY KHABAR (@MyKhabar_Viral) June 1, 2020
He added that half Iran’s fatalities for the past day were recorded in three provinces, without naming them.
“If this continues, deaths can reach three digits again.”
Coronavirus cases in Iran: on an upward trend
Infections have been on a rising trajectory in the Islamic republic since hitting a near two-month low on May 2.
Experts both at home and abroad have voiced scepticism about Iran’s official figures, saying the real toll could be much higher.
Iran says virus cases jump nearly 3,000 in a day, a 2-month high
"The #coronavirus is not only far from over, but we could at any moment see (another) dangerous peak," said Health Minister Saeed Namaki.
READ–https://t.co/7Cf5laEMuV#COVID19 pic.twitter.com/2Tj73OObZW
— The Times Of India (@timesofindia) June 1, 2020
Health officials have repeatedly raised the alarm for Khuzestan province on Iran’s southwestern border with Iraq.
Khuzestan remains “red”, the highest level on Iran’s colour-coded risk scale, and is the only province where the government has reimposed a lockdown.
“We pleaded with the people to not hold weddings or funerals but they did not listen” especially in Khuzestan, said Namaki.
Iranian firms working on a vaccine to combat COVID19
A number of Iranian companies have stepped into the domain of developing vaccines for the COVID-19 virus.
At the moment, five firms are working in that field, according to an Iranian official.
Read more: Iran appeals IMF for emergency loan request to combat coronavirus
“These days, a lot of news is heard from the four corners of the world about achievements gained in the domain of coronavirus vaccine production,” said Mostafa Qanei, the secretary of the Biotechnology Development Committee of the Science and Technology Department of the Presidential Office.
“This news is mostly released by modern and developed countries around the world,” he said.
“But Iran, too, is moving in tandem with these countries by releasing news about the great scientific potential of its knowledge-based companies,” he added.
The official underlined that Iran is in the lead when it comes to research and other measures about the COVID-19 virus.
He said Iranian scientists are also producing equipment needed to tackle the disease despite all sanctions and economic problems.
Coronavirus: The situation in Iran
As of today, the global number of people infected by the Novel Coronavirus and suffering from the associated disease COVID-19 in Iran has crossed 154,000. There have been more than 7,000 deaths associated with the disease. A statistic to take heart from is the fact that more than 121,000 people suffering from COVID-19 in Iran have recovered.
COVID-19 associated lockdowns have caused a slowdown in the international economy, with experts saying that it will shrink by as much as 6% this year. Estimates of its recovery do not show it recovering before 2022.
AFP with additional input by GVS News Desk