By Jubin Katiraie
Even the state-run media outlets in Iran have begun to publically acknowledge that the authorities’ plan to send people back to work – those who have been able to stay home anyway – during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak will put many more Iranians at risk of catching and spreading the disease, which will, in turn, lead to more deaths.
One might even describe the mullahs’ ridiculous plan as a crime against humanity or genocide.
On April 7, the Jahan-e-Sanat daily wrote: “Safeguarding people’s lives, their security and social/economic welfare should be the first priority of all governments. However, it appears that this subject is not the top priority of our government. The result can be witnessed in the increasing gap between our social classes and more people living in poverty. In general, the continuation of the government’s current measures will lead to the further spread of COVID-19, impose far more expenses upon the country and leave many more people dead.”
Yet still, despite all medical and economic advice, the government wants to resume work as normal to boost the economy. This advice, by the way, is coming from inside the regime worrying about a possible social turmoil.
The representative of the Health Minister in Gilan Province said Tuesday that “portraying the status quo as normal for the people will lead to further crises”, “far more dilemmas”, and “place us in danger”.
The head of the Kashan Medical Sciences University said Tuesday that 965 patients presenting with severe respiratory issues tested positive for coronavirus recently and that the country is “not [in] the post-coronavirus phase”.
He told the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC)-affiliated Fars news agency: “We are witnessing a gradual increase in the number of people hospitalized and a second wave of COVID-19 in the next few days is quite possible.”
While the spokesperson from Kerman Medical Sciences University told the state-run ISNA news agency: “Around 30 percent of yesterday’s tests in Kerman Province were reported as positive. This was the first time that we received positive test results from across the province.”
But MP Parvaneh Salahshouri told various state outlets on Tuesday: “Officials lack the ability to impose quarantine measures. The government’s top priority is the country’s economy, not people’s lives and health. Officials did not have the option to provide for the people’s needs at their doorsteps under quarantine conditions.”
To be clear, officials do have the option. They can easily end the funds to their terrorist proxies and have enough to pay people to stay at home for any non-essential work.
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