Damascus on brink of third coronavirus wave
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – Residents in Damascus fear that a third wave of the coronavirus is approaching its peak, while medical sources in Damascus have warned that the Syrian capital is on the verge of reaching the third peak in the number of people infected with the coronavirus.
Sandy Al-Khoury (a pseudonym), a doctor residing at al-Assad University Hospital), told North Press that there is a significant increase in the number of patients suspected of being infected with the coronavirus.
“We receive the severe cases that need care due to the lack of the necessary beds and ventilators,” she added.
Al-Khouri warned that “the third wave may be more severe than its predecessors due to the developments in the virus.”
“Al-Mouwasat Hospital witnesses nearly 200 cases of the virus daily, which I consider a dangerous indicator,” another medical source from al-Mouwasat Hospital, who preferred not to be named, told North Press.
“Children have severe symptoms in the new wave, which indicates new strains of the virus,” according to the source.
Wahid Khader, a resident physician at al-Mouwasat Hospital, told North Press that the absence of precautionary measures “will increase infections, and thus we are moving towards a disaster.”
“The government must take quick measures to avoid the problem, such as reducing congestion, especially in front of the Syrian bakeries, gas stations, and trade halls,” he added.
Rami al-Sayegh, a lawyer who lives in al-Qassaa, east of Damascus, told North Press, “I do not expect any serious actions to be taken by the government, which fears the current economic collapse accompanying the proposed measures.”
He added that resorting to individual precautions is not a real solution, though it is necessary.
This comes at the time when Hassan Mohamed al-Ghabash, the Syrian Minister of Health, requested in a circular addressed to the directors of public bodies with isolation sections on Saturday, “taking into account the possibility of moving to a contingency plan.”
On Saturday, the Ministry of Health announced 55 cases of coronavirus, which raises the total number, according to the ministry’s statistics, to 15925.
Medical workers doubt the statistics issued by the ministry, which is facing accusations of hiding the true numbers of the infected people.
Nebug al-Awa, a member of the advisory team to confront coronavirus, said in a statement reported by Russia Today on Thursday that the infections are increasing in the country, and they are higher than the announced ones.
In turn, Dima al-Khalidi (a pseudonym), a doctor in the septic section in the Mouwasat Hospital, warned of the re-collapse of the health system in the country due to the increase in the number of people infected with the virus.
Al-Khalidi called for a one-month suspension of schools and universities, and actions to reduce congestion and gatherings as much as possible.
Al-Khalidi told North Press, “The threat of the virus must be taken seriously, otherwise we are facing a health disaster that the government does not pay any attention to.”