Alireza Raisi, the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Deputy Minister of Health expressed despair in curtailing the spread of coronavirus in the near future, and while emphasizing that “the situation is not good at all,” he said: “with the death 147 more patients, the total number of victims is now at 1135.”

However, according to Iran International’s reliable medical sources in Iran, the death toll of coronavirus is at 3035, and many hospitals are recording other diseases instead of coronavirus as the cause of death in order to keep the official numbers down.

Raisi said on Wednesday: “According to the lab findings, in the past 24 hours 1192 new cases of COVID19 were identified in the country and the total number of patients has reached 17361.” He added that so far 5710 cases have been cured and released.

Previously, a WHO official had announced that the number of corona patients in Iran could be five times the official reports.

“The situation is not good at all. Coronavirus is a terrible virus. Some might have indicated otherwise in their talks, but it is not so. This virus is easily communicable and very damaging. If we not careful, we will lose loved ones.”

While many countries have put in place strong measures against the disease, Raisi explained that the government’s refusal to take such measures related to the “cultural condition” of Iran.