Towns in northeast Syria still void of coronavirus: Official

SHADADI, Syria (North Press) – Despite coronavirus outbreak in northeast Syria, several towns in the region were reported to be still void of the pandemic, officials said on Sunday.

Several cases were confirmed in the country's northeast city of Hassakeh last week, but its southern countryside is still free of the pandemic, Saleh al-Ali, member of Health Committee in the town of Shaddadi, about 60 km south to Hassakeh, told North Press.

"Our emergency teams are on alert 24/7 and if our they suspect any case, they immediately transfer it to centers specially established for coronavirus cases," he said.

Al-Ali added that another sterilization campaign to start in the town this week covering streets and public institutions, as part of the precaution measures to prevent the spread of the pandemic.

He further explained that although the virus claimed thousands of lives in the world, including people in northeast Syria, many people still don't take it seriously and not taking preventive measures.

Al-Ali further called on people of the region to abide by the personal protection measures in the areas the pandemic not reached yet.

On Sunday, the autonomous administration confirmed fifteen coronavirus infections, including a death, bringing the total number to 101 cases.

Last week, the Autonomous Administration imposed a full curfew on the region for two weeks as a measure to impede the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

 
(Reporting by Bassem al-Shewikh; Editing by Hisham Arafat)