First death of Syrian teacher due to coronavirus in Syria’s Latakia
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – On Wednesday, the Syrian Ministry of Education mourned the death of a teacher as the first case of teaching staff dying from coronavirus since the school start last September.
The Syrian Ministry of Education announced on its official website the death of the teacher Saleh Muneer Hamid, a geography teacher in the city of Jablah in the countryside of Syria’s costal city of Latakia, due to coronavirus.
According to the statement, Hamid was infected with coronavirus two weeks ago and transferred to the hospital of Haffa in the countryside of Latakia, where he passed away.
Hatoon Tawashi, the director of the School Health Administration in the ministry, revealed that the number of infected people in government schools has reached 44 all over the country so far.
In a statement to the official Tishreen Newspaper, Hatoon indicated to the situation in the school is acceptable and under control.
The increase in the numbers of infection comes amid parents’ calls to close the schools and turn to virtual learning until the pandemic is under control.
Hiba al-Kredi (a pseudonym) told North Press, “the schools must be closed immediately as there are indicators that another wave of the outbreak of coronavirus is on the way.”
She added that the ministry should take people’s fears seriously and stop school hours, otherwise it would be responsible for any deterioration of the health situation in Syria.
An administrator in the examinations department at the Ministry of Education who preferred not to mention her name told North Press, “The ministry is going ahead with its plans to continue school hours and there is no intention to stop it now.”
The administrator indicated that the ministry did not resort to the virtual learning due to the lack of technological infrastructure and capabilities of the ministry.
On Wednesday, the Syrian Ministry of Health announced the registration of 52 new infected cases of coronavirus in its areas, bringing the total number of infections to 4,200 cases.
Three deaths were also recorded, bringing the number of deaths to 200, while recovery cases reached 1,103.