The share of positive COVID-19 samples in Iran rose for the fifth consecutive week and reached 17 percent.

According to the Ministry of Health’s Center for Disease Management of Communicable Diseases for the week ending September 27, this figure was 8.9 percent in the same week of last year. The ratio of positive coronavirus samples in the week prior had passed the warning threshold.

The Ministry of Health emphasized the need to intensify monitoring of acute respiratory infections.

This warning comes as concerns about the simultaneous spread of COVID-19 and influenza have intensified.

Meanwhile, despite the approaching cold season, the influenza vaccine has not yet been distributed in pharmacies in Iran. According to the newspaper Shargh, the Food and Drug Organization has reported that shipments are being supplied from China, Russia, and some European countries, but pharmacy owners say there is no news of distribution.