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Special Features

Top Health Ministry Clinician: Omicron Cases in Iran Four Times Our Official Figure

February 1, 2022
OstanWire
1 min read
Top Health Ministry Clinician: Omicron Cases in Iran Four Times Our Official Figure

The number of new daily coronavirus infections in Iran is likely to pass 100,000 again in the next few weeks, health officials have warned. The rapid spread of the Omicron variant combined with low nationwide testing capacity means even this figure is likely to be an understatement.

Ebrahim Ghaderi, head of patient care at the Ministry of Health's Center for Infectious Disease Management, confirmed on Tuesday that the total number of Omicron patients was up to five times higher than that announced each day by the Health Ministry (28,995 on Monday): “We are back in an epidemic stage.”

Ghaderi added that the limited supply of tests capable of picking up Omicron in Iran was being offered to patients based on specific criteria. In addition, he said, “70 or 80 percent of patients only have mild symptoms and some do not go to see a doctor."

Massoud Younesian, head of epidemiology at the National Coronavirus Taskforce’s scientific committee, also said he expected recorded deaths from Covid-19 to return to “three-digit figures” this week. He added that vaccination coverage in Iran was “inadequate” and deaths from Omicron could be significantly higher than in the previous wave.

Related coverage:

Covid-19 Cases on the Rise as Omicron Sweeps Through Iran

'Back to Square One': Health Ministry Confirms Sixth Wave of Coronavirus in Iran

Iran's 'Smart' Covid Pass System Blighted by Low Resourcing

Ahvaz and Qom Hit by Spike in Omicron Cases

Vaccine Imports 'Banned' in Iran, Drug Administration Boss Claims

Health Minister Blames Iran's Early Vaccine Crisis on 'Political Pressure'

Iran Struggles to Record Omicron Cases Amid Dearth of Test Kits

Iran's New 'Smart' Project Proposes Vaccine QR Codes for Offices and Supermarkets

Omicron Fears as Covid-19 on the Rise in Iranian Schools

Omicron Variant Looms but Iran has No Means of Detecting It

Iran About-Turns on Domestic Flu Jab

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