Dubai: Iran can face the fifth wave of Covid-19 infection as a highly transmitted Delta variant of Coronavirus spread through the country hit by the Middle East, President Hassan Rouhani warns on Saturday.
“There are concerns that the entire country can enter the fifth wave if enough care is not taken in participating in the health protocol.
Today, the report is that only 69% of people who observe precautions,” said Rouhani in comments broadcast on the state TV.
“The Delta variant enters the country from the south and southeast, and we must be careful to prevent its spread in this country.
All health regulations must be completely observed, otherwise we will have problems,” Rouhani said.
Iran, with a population of 83 million, has recorded 84,627 deaths from Coronavirus, the highest victims in the Middle East.
The health authority has declared the capital of Tehran and 91 other cities as a high-risk “red” zone, 30 more than a week ago.
They ordered restrictions on internal travel, closing non-essential business and limiting work attendance to 30 percent of employees in the capital.
The government has blamed a slow vaccination drive on US sanctions inhibiting efforts to buy foreign vaccines and delivery delays.
Rouhani said Iran had received a small portion of the 16.8 million vaccines that had been ordered from the Global Covax vaccine sharing program.
A spokesman for Koronavirus Taskforce told State TV that the 7 million doses of vaccines had been distributed, with 2 million people who received a dose and 4 million only one.
Iran has been licensed to general use two vaccines produced locally, including one together with Cuba, and is working on five other Homegrown vaccines.
Tehran also works with Russia to produce Sputnik v Jab.
Food, medicines and other humanitarian equipment were released from US sanctions that were clogged in Tehran in 2018 after President Donald Trump walked away from the 2015 international agreement on Iran’s nuclear program.
But US steps, targeting the sector including oil and financial activities, has prevented several foreign banks from processing financial transactions with Iran.
Tehran said this often disrupted efforts to import important drugs and other humanitarian goods.