“Iranians burn clinic that may be quarantine for coronavirus patients,” Jerusalem Post, March 1, 2020. The story is subtitled, “Rumors claimed that 10 infected people were transported from Qom, a religious city that has been the epicenter of the virus outbreak in Iran, to the Towhid Clinic.”
“What is the real size of the coronavirus epidemic in Iran?,” CNA, March 1, 2020.
“False or misleading medical advice, fake letters or remarks attributed to senior officials, and a number of conspiracy theories about the origin of the virus have appeared on Iranian social media and messaging apps in recent days.” See “Coronavirus: Misinformation and false medical advice spreads in Iran,” Shayan Sardarizadeh, BBC, February 29, 2020.
Of all the experts you could select, and not select from other countries (remember, Iran is still the country who won’t allow help examining the black box of the Ukrainian airliner it shot out of the air), it turns to China. “China Sends Team to Aid Iranian Response to Surging Coronavirus,” Sune Engel Rasmussen and Aresu Eqbali, Wall Street Journal, February 29, 2020.
At least five Members of Iran’s Parliament have coronavirus, and one male MP has already died, Ali Ramazani Dasta. This instant story pertains to female MP Massoumeh Aghapur Alishahi. “Female Lawmaker Says She Contracted Coronavirus In Iran Parliament,” Radio Farda, March 1, 2020. See also “Iranian MP dies from coronavirus as Saudi Arabia resists infection,” Arab News, March 1, 2020, and “Iran’s death toll from coronavirus jumps to 54, with 978 infected,” Reuters, March 1, 2020.
“Israel Seizes $4M Transferred from Iran to Hamas,” Asharq Al-Awsat, February 28, 2020.
“Trump fights Iran’s ‘Axis of Resistance’ in Latin America,” Giorgio Cafiero, Atlantic Council, February 28, 2020.
I missed this story last summer, but saw it today. Corruption ate up medicine and medical equipment funds. “One Billion Euros Allocated For Importing Essential Goods ‘Disappears’ In Iran,” Radio Farda, July 21, 2019.
Another weak if almost meaningless response. “Iran Ready to Implement Joint Health Protocols with Russia in Coronavirus Fight,” Tasnim News Agency, March 1, 2020.
If this wasn’t a real story, it might be humorous. Brig. Gen. Heidari, the Army ground force chief, has announced, “Our experts working for the army’s self-sufficiency department have planned and built several unique equipments which should go under test by the Health Ministry. If everything goes well the equipment will be a great achievement in rapid diagnosis of the novel coronavirus. One of the army’s capabilities, which was unveiled in the ceremony today, was turning anti-bacterial liquids into fog to spray it over vast regions. We enjoy anti-pollution systems which are currently utilized by our forces across the country,” the commander said, adding, “According to the pre-planned program, the Army’s Ground Force is in charge of sanitizing hospitals and medical centers in Tehran.” Well, they did a great job already with pollution! See “Army produces unique equipment to intensify coronavirus fight,” Tehran Times, March 1, 2020.