IDLIB, Syria (North Press) – Areas held by the Turkish-backed opposition groups in western Syria are witnessing increasing numbers of coronavirus infected cases in the last few days, amid the absence of preventative measures.
A medical source from Idlib Public Hospital who preferred not to mention his name told North Press that they expect a sharp increase in the number of infected cases in the Idlib region, which may exceed the capacity of the health sector.
On Tuesday evening, the Syrian Interim Government of the Syrian Opposition Coalition announced the registration of 85 new infected cases in northwestern Syria, including 32 cases in Idlib.
He said that he is afraid that the gathering centers won’t be closed, as most people don’t wear masks, and he warned of an explosion in the infected cases.
The medical source fears of the outbreak of the virus among the IDPs camps, especially those on the Turkish border.
In a previous statement to North Press, Maram Sheikh, Minister of Health in the Syrian Interim Government, expected a sharp rise in the infected cases by October.
Osama Abdulrahman, a humanitarian activist, held the Syrian Salvation Government responsible for the outbreak of the coronavirus in northern Syria, as it did not work to impose any preventative measures against the pandemic.
The Syrian Salvation Government is the civil wing of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS, formerly al-Nusra Front) based in the Idlib governorate. It is not recognized by the Turkish-backed Syrian Interim Government.
Abdulrahman added, “Yes, it issued several decisions, but none of them were implemented, and this is evidence that the Salvation Government is still disregarding the coronavirus.”
The health board of the Interim Government has recorded 1,379 infected cases, 14 dead, and 751 recovered.
Omer Tawil, a resident of Idlib, stated that markets, public parks, and playgrounds in Idlib are crowded, and such places are an appropriate environment for the outbreak of coronavirus.
Tawil also held the Salvation Government responsible for this great recklessness, especially as it did not make any decision to close markets and other public places.