KOBANI, Syria (North Press) – Days after the issuance of a partial lockdown in northeast Syria, most shops and markets in the city of Kobani have still not adhered to the lockdown amid an increasing number of coronavirus infections.
On Monday, the city of Kobani recorded 14 new cases of the virus.
Adhering to the lockdown is a necessity amid an increasing death toll, and there must be a complete lockdown of the city, said Kobani shop owner Muhammad Muhammad.
“We call on the administration to prevent wakes, weddings, and large gatherings,” he told North Press, adding that there must be a complete lockdown for two weeks in order for people to recognize the seriousness of the measures and adhere to physical distancing.
The Autonomous Administration of North East Syria (AANES) issued a partial lockdown for ten days in its areas on October 27.
The lockdown mandates the closure of all shops at 3 PM, something which supermarket owner Mahmoud Khalil disagrees with, explaining that such an early closure does not give residents a chance to buy their daily needs. “The markets should close at 6 or 7 PM to avoid the big losses in case the vegetables spoil,” he added.
Yaman Hemmo, an Autonomous Administration employee, agreed with Muhammad that the start of the lockdown time should be at 4 or 5 PM, or work hours should be reduced, “so that we can purchase our necessities.”
“Our shift is from 8 AM to 3 PM and the shops must close at 3 PM,” Hemmo stated, adding that “people are dealing with the pandemic in the same way as before; they still hold gatherings, weddings in wedding halls, and solaces’ tents.”
Mustafa Ito, co-chair of the Kobani Civil Council, said that the situation is becoming dangerous in the Kobani region.
“So far, as it was hot, and the symptoms of those infected were mild, the spread of the virus was limited,” he added.
But as winter approaches, according to the Health Board, the situation will get even worse, he confirmed, adding that people must adhere to the lockdown decisions to curb the rising death toll.
He added that they did not want to enforce the issued decision by imposing fines, and that it is better for people to abide by it voluntarily and to take public interest into consideration.
Ito believes that the partial lockdown issued by AANES, especially in the Kobani Region, was insufficient.
“We as the Kobani Canton Council proposed to the AANES and the Euphrates Region at least a 15-day complete lockdown,” he confirmed.
“Within 15 days, some of the sick will recover; also, we can curb the spread of the pandemic, even if only partially,” he added.