Red Covid Cities Down to Zero

The Health Ministry in its latest update released on Friday said that the number of cities on red Covid-19 alert had dropped from two to zero over the past week as the spread of the virus slowed across the country. 
High-risk regions, color-coded as orange, also declined sharply from 48 to 33 in one week and safer blue areas rose from 75 to 94, ISNA reported. 
In the last 24 hours, only 11 Covid patients died from the disease and 530 tested positive for the virus. At least 21 of Iran’s 31 provinces registered no coronavirus-related mortalities and nine logged only one death. 
Only the northwestern province of West Azarbaijan reported two fatalities over the past day. 
The significant drop in transmission, hospitalization and death rates can be contributed to the country’s high vaccination coverage. More than 76% of the population have received a first dose and 68.4% have been given a second shot.
Children between five to 12 years old are the least vaccinated age group. Some 24% have been administered the first dose and merely 11% have been given a second shot, Mohsen Zahraei, head of the Health Ministry’s office for vaccine-preventable diseases, said on Saturday.
Iran has also been giving out third booster shots to anyone over the age of 18 since last autumn.
“Since the Omicron variant is still spreading in the country, our main recommendation is the injection of the third jab,” Zahraei pointed out, referring to large-scale studies carried out around the world as the basis for the suggestion.
The highly contagious Omicron variant is the dominant strain in Iran and the world. It was first detected in Iran in early winter and caused a surge in hospitalizations and fatalities. 
On Saturday’s National Coronavirus Headquarters meeting, President Ebrahim Raisi gave the go-ahead for a fourth dose for everyone over 70 years old and those with a weakened immune system. 
The fourth vaccine was only available to individuals over age of 80 and healthcare providers. Hospital personnel were prioritized over other health professionals. 
Iran has halted vaccine imports and immunizes its population with a variety of locally-produced jabs.