’People should commit to protective measures’ – elderly in Derik,,NE Syria
DERIK, Syria (North Press) – The elderly of the city of Derik, in the far northeast of Syria, called for commitment to preventive measures to confront coronavirus and avoid transmitting infection to the sick and the elderly, especially after an infection was recorded in the countryside of the city. The Health Board says that the economic situation and “recklessness” are two main reasons for the residents’ lack of commitment in this “dangerous” stage.
74-year-old Derik Derik resident Badraddin al-Kurdi said that he does not leave his house, except when he is forced to go to the market to buy his basic needs. During these trips he does not shake hands with the others nor dods he approach gatherings, and he prays at home instead of congregational prayer in the mosque to protect himself from the virus.
He believed that residents, especially the elderly, should take care of their health through commitment to preventative measures, as “the more our commitment to refraining from visits, gatherings, and mixing, the more sound the results.”
56-year-old Marwan Ibrahim said that he is being ridiculed by those around him because he wears masks, and that he “does not see a total commitment by residents regarding protection from the virus.”
Ibrahim is afraid of the virus after the recording of an infection in the countryside of the city. “In our city, only 10% of the population wear the masks, while those wearing gloves are very few.”
Ibrahim added that residents should “help themselves” by preserving their health and the health of their neighbors, taking care of hygiene and washing hands well, in addition to wearing protective masks in the streets and all gathering places
.
58-year-old Wadha Omar came to buy her things from the bazar but was keen to wear a mask, and called for the canceling of visits and staying at home except for necessary cases.
Late July, the Health Board of the AANES announced that it recorded a case of coronavirus in the countryside of Derik.
So far, the recorded infections with the virus in the AANES regions reached 138 cases, including six deaths and ten recoveries.
On Tuesday, the Health Board announced the registration of 19 new infections and the death of one of the cases.
In a statement to North-Press, the co-chair of the Health Board in the city of Derik, Rojin Ahmad, said that the economic situation of the population plays a role in their lack of commitment to preventative measures. The main reason, though, according to her, is “recklessness and irresponsibility by a group of the population.”
Ahmad called on residents to protect themselves from infection with coronavirus at a time where the infections have reached a “dangerous” stage.
Reporting by Solnar Mohammad