Autonomous Administration: Our strategy in facing coronavirus depends on prevention and awareness

Qamishli – North-Press Agency

The co-chair of the Health Board of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, Jiwan Mustafa, said that the strategy of the Health Board in facing the coronavirus depends on two axes: the axis of general prevention, and the axis of educating people on methods of prevention and personal care.

In a special statement to North-Press, member of the Crisis Cell to combat coronavirus in northeastern Syria stated that the Autonomous Administration has taken all necessary measures and procedures to prevent this virus from reaching its territories, including closing border crossings, preventing arrivals and equipping quarantine centers.

He added that, at first, they decided to close all Autonomous Administration institutions for three days to complete sterilization procedures, after which there will be more stringent health procedures for all employees working in these departments.

Mustafa said that "The sterilization of institutions will be followed by sterilization of open places such as markets, some crowded streets, and places that will be chosen by some consultants in this field; these places will be sterilized with materials capable of killing the virus."

Mustafa also noted the possibility of tightening procedures in the event of the virus outbreak in the region, such as the imposition of a curfew within a city or preventing movement from one city to another. "Everything is possible in this regard," he said.

As for counter-measures in the event of diagnosing cases of coronavirus infection, Mustafa said that the Autonomous Administration has equipped quarantine centers and provided them with required medical staff and that these medical teams will perform their humanitarian duty towards the infected and provide all required medical services.

With regard to cooperation with local and international organizations and bodies regarding confronting coronavirus, Mustafa stressed that there are communication and cooperation with the World Health Organization (WHO) in this field, as "WHO undertook sampling in the event of a suspected case and performed the necessary examinations to confirm or deny the infection."

Mustafa noted that there is no serious support from international and local organizations for the Autonomous Administration regarding coronavirus. There is also no communication with the Syrian government in this regard, according to him.

With regard to combating coronavirus in the existing camps in the areas of the Autonomous Administration, Mustafa said: "The issue of the camps is an international one; just because the camps are located in northeastern Syria does not mean that the Autonomous Administration is obligated to do this job alone."

He pointed out that there are promises from the WHO, specifically regarding al-Hawl camp, "but nothing has been achieved so far,” he said.

The Crisis Cell that was formed on Saturday, held its first press conference on Sunday in the building of the Bureau of Foreign Affairs in Qamishli, during which it revealed the latest measures taken by the Autonomous Administration to confront this global epidemic.