TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said that inauguration of different infrastructural and economic projects in Iran indicates that enemies’ pressures and sanctions have failed to produce the US desired results.
“Despite the pressures put by the enemies, different projects are being inaugurated across Iran every week,” President Rouhani said, addressing a ceremony held on Thursday via videoconference on inauguration of the biggest medium-density fibreboard (MDF) production unit in the Northern Iranian province of Mazandaran.
“The enemies cannot be successful in bringing the nation to their knees,” he added.
Elsewhere, Rouhani said that the country is currently passing over the peak of the novel coronavirus epidemic.
“All Iranian provinces, except two, are leaving behind the coronavirus peak,” he said, adding, “The correct methods have been applied across the country in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.”
Rouhani appreciated medical personnel for their efforts, sacrifices and dedication during these days, and said, “The country is currently passing over the peak of the novel coronavirus epidemic.”
The Iranian health ministry announced on Thursday that 2,621 new cases of COVID-19 virus infection have been identified in the country during the past 24 hours, increasing the total number of coronavirus patients to 301,530.
“2,621 new patients infected with COVID-19 have been identified in the country during the past 24 hours and 1,588 patients have been hospitalized,” Iranian Health Ministry Spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari said on Thursday, and added, “The total number of the COVID-19 patients reached 301,530.”
“Unfortunately, 226 patients have passed away in the past 24 hours, increasing the number of the dead to 16,569,” she added.
Sadat Lari expressed pleasure that 261,200 cases infected with coronavirus have recovered or been discharged from hospitals, voicing concern that 4,041 patients are in critical conditions.
Rouhani said last month that over 1,000 medical centers in the country have received necessary equipment to conduct tests on people suspected of infection to coronavirus, and added that Iran ranks first in the Muslim world in scientific achievements.
“Based on a report [by the health ministry], 1,200 centers across the country are ready to take samples and tests from people and 17,500 nursing and health homes are also prepared to provide hygiene and treatment services to people,” Rouhani said, addressing a meeting of the national coronavirus campaign headquarters in Tehran.
Also, earlier this month, he said that the country will increase the number of its hospital beds to 8,000 by the end of the current Iranian year (March 19).
“We will add 8,000 hospital beds by the yearend,” Rouhani said.
He added that 1,500 hospital beds for special cases have also been added to the capacity of the country’s medical system since the outbreak of coronavirus in the country, noting that 2 drug production lines are also added every month to the country’s pharmaceutical capacity.
The coronavirus COVID-19 is affecting approximately all countries and territories around the world. The virus was first reported in the central Chinese city of Wuhan late last year. It has so far killed over 670,900 people and infected more than 17.2 million others globally.
The Iranian foreign ministry declared that despite Washington’s claims of cooperation to transfer drugs to Iran via the new Swiss-launched payment mechanism, the US is troubling the process amid the coronavirus outbreak in the country.
Although US claims that medicines and medical equipment are not under sanctions, they have practically blocked the transfer of Iran’s financial resources in other countries into the Swiss Humanitarian Trade Arrangement (SHTA), former Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Seyed Abbas Mousavi said.
As the death toll from the virus surges, Iran intensifies its preventive safety measures. Closures of schools and most universities have been extended until further notice.
