2020 coronavirus pandemic in Syria
 | This article documents a current disease pandemic. Information regarding this event may change rapidly and may be unreliable. The last updates to this article may not reflect the most current information about this disease pandemic for all areas. (Learn how and when to remove this template message) |
| Disease | COVID-19 |
|---|---|
| Virus strain | SARS-CoV-2 |
| Location | Syria |
| First case | Official - none Reported 5 March 2020 (1 week and 6 days) |
| Origin | Wuhan, Hubei, China |
| Confirmed cases | unknown |
Deaths | unknown |
The 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic was reported to have spread to the Syrian Arab Republic on 14 March 2020, based on indirect evidence from Pakistan - where among confirmed 14 imported COVID-19 cases some arrived from Syria.[1] The Syrian government denied any COVID-19 cases in the country as of March 14.[2]
Syria is considered especially vulnerable to the epidemic due to the ongoing Syrian Civil War and dire humanitarian situation.[3][4]
Timeline[edit]
March 2: The Government of Iraqi Kurdistan, in a rare collaboration with its Syrian counterpart, ordered complete closure of Syrian–Iraqi border to halt the spread.[5]
March 10: The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that there have been outbreaks of COVID-19 in Tartous, Damascus, Homs and Latakia provinces. According to the UK-based monitor's sources, a strict gag order has been issued to forbid medical personnel from discussing the issue.[6]
March 11: Health official from the Jazeera province in autonomous Northeast region of Syria said that there are no documented cases of COVID19 in the province. Kurdistan TV reported from Qamishli, the largest Kurdish city in Syria, stated that 1% of the population in the city was wearing protective masks, as pharmacies and medical equipment sales centers were running low on mask supplies.[7] Furthermore, by March 11, four cases had been suspected and contacted the Syrian Health Authority, which contacted the World Health Organization and completed the required examinations resulting in negative results.
March 14: The Pakistani Chief Minister of Sindh province alleged that nationals returning from the Middle East had imported the disease.[1] Out of 14 confirmed cases in Sindh province, eight had a travel history that included Syria.[1] The day earlier, World Health Organization said that all Pakistani cases were imported, but without mentioning the exact origin of those.[1]
The Syrian government denied any cases of COVID-19 in the country.[2] Nevertheless, authorities delayed upcoming parliamentary elections, shut down schools and canceled most public events to prevent any spread of the coronavirus.[2]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d "Pakistan blames Syria for Coronavirus outbreak". Daily Times. March 14, 2020.
- ^ a b c "Syria, insisting it is coronavirus-free, takes broad steps to prevent spread". March 14, 2020 – via www.reuters.com.
- ^ "In Syria's northwest, medics fear the worst if coronavirus hits crowded camps". March 11, 2020 – via www.reuters.com.
- ^ "Syrian refugees are experiencing their worst crisis to date. Coronavirus will make it worse". Washington Post. Archived from the original on 1 March 2020. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
- ^ "Officials to close Syria-Kurdistan Region border to block coronavirus". kurdistan24.net. Archived from the original on 29 February 2020. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
- ^ [1]
- ^ Shivan Ibrahim (2020-03-11). "Is COVID-19 lurking in Syria's Kurdish northeast?". Al-monitor.com. Retrieved 2020-03-16.
