Syria Begins COVID-19 Vaccinations with Healthcare Workers

A Syrian worker disinfects a street to prevent the spread of coronavirus in Damascus, Syria, August 3, 2020. (SANA via AP)
A Syrian worker disinfects a street to prevent the spread of coronavirus in Damascus, Syria, August 3, 2020. (SANA via AP)
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Syria Begins COVID-19 Vaccinations with Healthcare Workers

A Syrian worker disinfects a street to prevent the spread of coronavirus in Damascus, Syria, August 3, 2020. (SANA via AP)
A Syrian worker disinfects a street to prevent the spread of coronavirus in Damascus, Syria, August 3, 2020. (SANA via AP)

Syria’s health ministry said on Monday it had started administering COVID-19 vaccinations to frontline healthcare workers.

“For the second day in a row COVID-19 vaccinations are being given to frontline healthcare workers that are working within coronavirus isolation centers across governorates,” a ministry statement said.

The statement did not make clear what type of vaccine Syria had acquired or the quantity.

Syria had said on Thursday it had received vaccinations from a “friendly country” that it did not name.

Health officials had said Syria was engaged with Russia and China on vaccines but no bilateral deals have been announced.

The health ministry detected a rise in infections recently, the statement said.

Syria had recorded 15,588 coronavirus cases with 1,027 deaths up to Sunday.



China's Xi Visits Morocco, Meets with Crown Prince

Chinese President Xi Jinping. Reuters
Chinese President Xi Jinping. Reuters
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China's Xi Visits Morocco, Meets with Crown Prince

Chinese President Xi Jinping. Reuters
Chinese President Xi Jinping. Reuters

Chinese President Xi Jinping made a short visit to Morocco on Thursday, according to state media from both countries.
Xi was welcomed in Casablanca by Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan and the visit reflected the strong bonds of friendship, cooperation, and solidarity between the Moroccan and Chinese peoples, Morocco's MAP said.
The Crown Prince and Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch met Xi at the airport, where Xi and Hassan had a "cordial conversation", China's state broadcaster CCTV said.
Xi made the visit after being in Brazil for the G20 Summit.
China has stepped up investments in Morocco's infrastructure and rail sector in recent years.
Morocco's geographic location close to Europe, its free trade agreements with key EU and US markets and its existing automotive industry, make it attractive to Chinese electric vehicle battery makers.
In June, Chinese EV battery manufacturer Gotion High Tech picked Morocco to set up Africa's first gigafactory for a total cost of $1.3 billion.