Likelihood of Another Covid Wave Growing 

The chances of another wave of the Covid-19 pandemic hitting Iran is growing as Omicron infections have surged in other parts of the globe, the spokesman for the Health Ministry, Pedram Pakaein, stated. 
“The possibility of a fresh wave of the coronavirus, driven by Omicron variants, entering the country during winter has increased,” Pakaein was quoted as saying by ISNA on Monday.
Many eastern and western nations in the world have reported spikes in Covid infections and hospitalizations in the past few weeks while the figures have remained low in certain countries such as Iran, Turkey, Russia and India. 
Pakaein noted, “In the past month, we registered zero deaths on 13 days. In the United States, France and Germany, the death toll rose to three-digit figures.”
According to the health official, it was typical for a new variant to enter Iran about a month after it was reported in Europe. But the BQ.1, a new offshoot of the dominant BA.5 variant, was yet to find its way to Iran. 
“Despite this, the Covid outbreak is not over, not in Iran or any other country in the world,” he added. 
One epidemiologist, Babak Eshrati, projected that the country would see a rise in cases in the next three to four weeks.
Head of the Health Ministry’s Center for Infectious Disease Control, Behnam Arshi, said it was too early to estimate when the new wave would hit Iran. 

Medicine Supplies 

Deputy Health Minister Saeed Karami announced that all hospitals and medical centers were fully prepared to tackle a new coronavirus wave and there was no shortage of supplies in drugs used to treat Covid.
“There isn’t any shortage of coronavirus medicines and local manufacturers are producing vaccines based on new variants,” Karami stated.
He voiced concerns about public disregard for facemasks and encouraged the public to follow safety rules.
He said, “The situation is desirable in Iran and neighboring nations but there is no guarantee that we won’t be affected by the new wave.”
Karami added that he did not intend to worry the people or businesses but asked them to stay vigilant.
“In a world of communication and comings and goings, there is the possibility of the arrival and the transport of the virus,” he said. 
Health authorities are advising unvaccinated individuals to receive a Covid vaccine as soon as possible in preparation for the possible rise in the disease.