by Shepard Ambellas, Intellihub:

TEHRAN (INTELLIHUB) — Police and military presence in Iran’s capital city increased exponentially throughout the night on Wednesday as authorities engaged initial phases of martial law in the region after publically announcing only 6 confirmed cases of COVID-19 Coronavirus.

Kamkar hospital is on high alert.

Two-hundred patients have reportedly been released from various hospitals to make room for those who have fallen ill from the deadly virus.

Officials confirm two dead but residents fear the government is lying.

Anti-riot units were dispatched to Qom in central Iran after authorities became fearful protests would break out due to forced quarantines.

#UPDATE
Footage from Qom, central #Iran
-Kamkar Hospital at high alert status
-Reports indicate 200 patients from various hospitals have been released have facilities ready to cope with coronavirus crisis.
-Farghani Hospital to be at high alert from Thursday pic.twitter.com/t4ho2ILbfu

— Heshmat Alavi (@HeshmatAlavi) February 19, 2020

Heshmat Alavi, reporting from Iran Tweeted: “Patient possibly infected with coronavirus transferred by ambulance from Qom. Authorities claim only six patients are confirmed. Transferring a patient to Tehran could mean hospitals in Qom can’t cope with the crisis.”

#UPDATE
-Footage shows anti-riot units dispatched to Qom, central #Iran. Authorities fear protests after reports of coronavirus cases.
-State media reporting six confirmed coronavirus patients; families & close friends also quarantined. pic.twitter.com/5zhZMpLVYR

— Heshmat Alavi (@HeshmatAlavi) February 19, 2020

Alavi reports: “Massive deployment of security & anti-riot units, including special water-cannon vehicles. This further indicates that regime officials are more concerned about a new wave of protests than the coronavirus outbreak.”

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