The civil authority in northwest Syria ordered the closure of public places in Idlib, Jarabulus, and Al-Bab, amid an alarming rise of COVID-19 transmission rates among residents.
Syria reported a total of 5,719 COVID-19 cases and 241 deaths across its areas. The government's ministry of health reported 44 new cases, bringing the total number of infections to 3,877. Meanwhile, the death toll stood at 178 after three new deaths were recorded.
For its part, the Health Board of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) said it recorded its highest virus tally of 96 cases, which brought the total number of infections to 1,304.
Also, opposition-ruled areas recorded 654 virus cases and six deaths, one of them was reported in a refugee camp.
In regime-ran areas, Damascus reported the highest number of cases, amounting up to 1,346 infections and 82 deaths. The capital was followed by Aleppo with up to 904 infections and 22 deaths.
Moreover, the Syrian Interim Government published a report saying that only 600 doctors are available to provide health care for four million residents in northwest Syria, which means one doctor for every 10,000 individuals.
The report revealed that there are 201 beds in the intensive care units which means one bed to every 21,000 patients. It also said only 96 ventilators are working with full capacity; 30 of them are for children.
Muhammad Hallaj, the director of Syria’s Response Coordination Group (SRCG), said that the main concern is that the pandemic could spread in the camps and become uncontrollable.
Officials from AANES see that the hike in virus cases during the past days is alarming. Joan Mustafa, the joint head of AANES, stressed that the irresponsibility of individuals in dealing with the pandemic is putting the region at risk, stressing that everyone must be cautious.
