Lockdown decreases number of coronavirus infections in Syria’s Derik
DERIK, Syria (North Press) – The number of coronavirus infections in the city of Derik, northeast Syria, decreased during the total lockdown imposed by the Autonomous Administration in North and East Syria (AANES), a local medical official said on Wednesday.
“The total lockdown had positive results, as the number of applicants for swabs during the first week decreased to 125/175 and to only 80 swabs per day during the second week,” Rojin Ahmad, head of the Health Committee in the city of Qamishli, said.
“There are 18 mild and critical cases in the Covid-19 ward in Derik Hospital, but these cases have been there since before the implementation of the lockdown,” she added.
Today, the AANES Health Board recorded 233 new coronavirus cases including 34 in Derik bringing the total toll in the areas of Syria’s northeast to 29,365 infections.
As a result of the increasing number of the infections and deaths, the AANES Crisis Management Team imposed a complete lockdown in areas of the Jazira Region in September 25.
Yesterday on Tuesday, the Crisis Management Team lifted the lockdown in al-Jazira Region except for the cities of Qamishli, Hasakah, and Derik, where the complete lockdown may continue to October 7 with the possibility of extending it.
Ahmad called on residents of the region to receive the vaccine, saying, “The vaccination process is witnessing a weak turnout.”
“The vaccination process takes place on Sunday and Thursday in the medical center in Derik,” she noted.
So far, about 4,500 people have been vaccinated in Derik, according to the Health Committee.