Iran’s Rouhani denies medical shortages as COVID-19 death toll tops 2,000

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani on Wednesday denied the country is suffering a shortage of doctors, nurses, and hospital beds while it battles the COVID-19 pandemic, as his government appears to reconsider its soft approach to curbs on free movement. 

“The overall medical operation has been a great work… as of today we have not had any shortages of beds, nurses, and doctors even in the special care units,” Rouhani said following a cabinet meeting in Tehran.

“The social distancing move will be approved and will be notified. It may be tough and cause impediments to people’s travels. It may ask people to return early from their trips and go back to their homes and avoid new trips,” he added. 

The government approved strict restrictions on internal travel more than a month after the first case of the virus was officially confirmed in the central city of Qom. 

Government spokesperson Ali Rabei admitted internal travel has made the situation worse and said the police and the interior ministry will soon announce a date after which further movement will be restricted. 

“Some are not listening and transmit the virus through travel… therefore the harsh decision is for the people to enjoy more safety,” Rabei said. “In reality, new waves of travel won’t be possible.” 

The first two weeks of spring are an important holiday in Iran known as Newroz where Iranians travel around the country for leisure and to see family. 

Despite the curbs in place, more than 8.5 million people have already left their homes and are travelling across the country according to an official tally. 

Iran is in the midst of an ever-worsening pandemic as the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak in the Middle East. 

According to the Alireza Vahabzadeh, an adviser to the ministry of health, 2,077 people have died and 27,017 have been infected as of midday on Wednesday.

Ali Reza Zali, head of the Coronavirus Combat Taskforce, said security forces should enforce curbs on free movement in Tehran more strenuously. 

“Today I observed Tehran with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commander of Tehran … from the air. People in the city and in particular in the parks are sitting and picnicking,” Zali said Tuesday night.

“Our suggestion to the municipality is to stop people from going to the parks where possible.”

Iranian authorities, including President Rouhani, have been critical of ongoing US sanctions and have called on the international community to pressure Washington to ease the pressure while it combats the virus. 

Ever eager to prove its self-sufficiency, Tehran has also rejected an offer from Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) to set up a 50-bed hospital in the city of Isfahan. 

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet called for an easing of sanctions on countries such as Iran to “avoid the collapse of any country’s medical system – given the explosive impact that will have on death, suffering and wider contagion.”