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Over the past 24 hours Iran's MOH has announced 5 confirmed COVID-19 cases (including 2 deaths), and has indicated a number of others are being tested for the novel coronavirus. At least one victim is a doctor, and the confirmed cases are all described as local.
Arabic social media, as you can imagine, has gone ballistic with this news, and there are a large number of unsubstantiated reports of additional cases (and even deaths). While certainly possible, they are pretty much unverifiable.While information published by State run media IRNA (Islamic Republic News Agency) is more or less `official', it isn't necessarily telling us the whole story.
With that caveat, sometCOVID-19 reports reported today on IRNA's Corona in Iran; Latest News and Reports.
First, a report of 8 recent `respiratory' deaths - two of which have tested positive for the novel coronavirus - which may be the basis for some of the higher COVID-19 numbers being touted on social media this morning.
It unfortunately contains a clichéd insistence that COVID-19 is ` . . .no deadlier than flu . . .", which isn't likely to get a lot of traction, considering the massive mobilization of the world's public health systems against this threat.
Head of University of Medical Sciences: Thousands of masks distributed in Qom pharmacies
Qom - IRNA - Head of Qom University of Medical Sciences said: Coordinated with the Organization of Industry, Mining and Commerce to distribute 5,000 masks soon in pharmacies in the province.
According to Qom University of Medical Sciences Public Relations, Mohammad Reza Qadir on Thursday added: "It is not the need to wear masks by all people, but by people who are related to the patient, including their companions and medical staff, or those who suspect this. Viruses must use a mask.
"The disease is no more deadly than the flu, but personal hygiene and care are important in preventing the epidemic," he added.
"We have seen a peak of respiratory illnesses in the last three to four days, and studies have shown that 8 deaths and preliminary tests revealed that these 2 tones were corona positive," he said.
"People should wash their hands properly and avoid attending community meetings and be careful about health issues so that we can control the disease," said Qom University of Medical Sciences head.
Kamkar Hospital in Qom has been identified as a quarantine site and patients and suspected cases of Corona and Ferghani Hospital have been identified as the next quarantine site if needed.
Coronary disease is no more dangerous than the flu in terms of the severity and magnitude of the deaths, so people are no place for fear and people need to take medical and health care only seriously; using masks, avoiding rubies and handicaps, and other This is highly recommended, and is often emphasized by experts.(Continue . . . )
Another report questions the medical community's readiness to deal with the novel Coronavirus:
Many do not know how to treat a suspected coronary patient
Tehran - IRNA - Director of Public Relations of the Medical System Organization believes that despite a month of training, many medical staff and people do not know how to treat a patient with suspected coronavirus.
Hossein Kermanpour said in an interview with IRNA Health on Thursday: Various electronic courses have been held over the past month in the field of coronavirus, but many medical staff, doctors and people do not know how to treat a patient with suspected coronavirus.
He continued: continuous hand washing, not mixing coronary artery disease with other cases, complete removal of clothing and quick replacement with proper hospital clothing, air disinfectants, adequate ventilation and adequate N- masks , sufficient napkins including Safety tips.
The Sina Hospital Emergency Manager said: "Physicians and nurses should also take care of their scarfs, scarves, and hoods while not examining the patient."
According to IRNA, according to the latest statistics, the Corona virus has so far claimed the lives of 3,600 people worldwide.
Yesterday, two people were reported dead in Qom due to the Corona virus, and three others were reported in Qom and Arak today.And a third story, reports that private ambulances are banned from transporting COVID-19 cases, another sign suggesting the virus is spreading in the local community.
The transfer of suspected patients to Corona by private ambulance was banned
TEHRAN - IRNA - The head of the country's emergency department, in a letter to medical university presidents, banned the transfer of suspected patients to Corona by private ambulances.
In a letter addressed to the heads of the medical universities of the country, Pir Hossein Collivand wrote on Thursday to the private ambulances covered by the University of Coronavirus. Any transfer of suspicious patients (including patients with respiratory symptoms) without coordination with The country's emergency agency is banned.
He also emphasized the prohibition on the transfer of patients between cities and wrote: According to the instructions, these patients should be transferred by the Special Operations Teams, and the medical assistants would supervise the good work and report any violations to the pre-hospital emergency at the University of Science. Report to the doctor for follow up. Any violation of private ambulances will be seriously dealt with.
Kianoush Jahanpour, head of the Ministry of Health's Public Relations and Information Center, told IRNA in an interview that the letter was issued by the country's emergency department.
A video was posted last night showing a suspected patient being transferred to Corona by a private ambulance.
It seems likely that COVID-19 has been spreading in Iran for at least a couple of weeks, given the incubation period and the time it typically takes a patient to develop serious enough symptoms to require hospital care.
Reuters is reporting that the local health authorities are considering the suspension of all religious gatherings in the Shi’ite Muslim holy city of Qom.Inconveniently, all of this comes barely 2 months before the start of the Holy Month of Ramadan, when several million religious pilgrims make the trek to visit the Holy cities in Saudi Arabia.
