Due to the increase in the number of outpatient visits related to the coronavirus, fatalities from the disease are likely to follow suit over the next few weeks, a senior official with the Health Ministry’s Center for Management of Infectious Disease, Babak Eshrati, stated on Sunday.
The rise in outpatient visits will definitely increase hospitalizations, which could in turn cause more deaths, especially among individuals already suffering from chronic illnesses, Eshrati was quoted as saying by ISNA.
“This rise was predictable and it seems like the upward trend will continue for the next few weeks,” the health official said.
After new Omicron offshoots were detected in the country in early January, authorities warned that a new Covid wave would hit the country and reach its peak near the start of the New Iranian Year on March 21.
“We normally announce a peak when the healthcare system is overwhelmed. We haven’t seen a new peak as of yet,” Eshrati noted.
He said that estimates on the number of daily cases during February were higher than what happened in reality. He pointed out that mistakes in projections could stem from the milder symptoms caused by the new variants.
According to Eshrati, infection rates could still surge after the New Year holidays known as Norouz as millions of Iranians travel or visit family.
He nevertheless added, “Since Norouz coincides with Ramadan, people might travel less this year.”
During the fasting month of Ramadan, travel is prohibited for Muslims unless under certain circumstances or for prolonged periods.