PCR testing represents the gold standard in diagnosing COVID-19. The addition of the new devices, worth more than $2.8 million, procured through contributions from German Humanitarian Assistance and other international partners, will increase the testing capacity of the country’s laboratory network. The network currently conducts an average of 27,000 PCR tests daily.
“Increased testing capacity is important for detecting and isolating cases at earlier stages and tracing those in contact with them, which can contribute to early control of transmission and effective treatment of patients,” said Dr Christoph Hamelmann, WHO Representative in Iran.
The devices will be distributed to reference laboratories in 24 provinces including Ardabil, Alborz, Isfahan, Ilam, Boushehr, Tehran, Chahar Mahal and Bakhtiary, South Khorasan, Khorasan Razavi, North Khorasan, Zanjan, Semnan, Sistan and Balouchestan, Fars, Qazvin, Qom, Kurdistan, Kerman, Kohgiloyeh and Boyerahmad, Lorestan, Guilan, Markazi, Hormozgan, and Yazd.
Ventilators are vital instruments in the care of COVID-19 patients in critical care units. Of the 150 ventilators delivered by WHO, at a value of more than $2.7 million, 50 have been funded by the Government of Japan and the other 100 have been procured through contributions from the Sate of Kuwait, and other international humanitarian aids. “The machines will contribute to an increased recovery rate for critically ill patients suffering from COVID-19,” Hamelmann noted.
Iran announced Sunday that its death toll from the coronavirus has surpassed 30,300, in what has been the Mideast region’s worst outbreak.
Health Ministry spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari announced that the total death toll from the outbreak had reached 30,375.
Iran has been struggling with the coronavirus since announcing its first cases in February, with more than 530,000 confirmed cases to date.