Health Minister, WHO Representative stress no coronavirus cases have so far been confirmed in Syria, call for avoiding rumors

DAMASCUS, (ST)- Health Minister Nizar Yaziji has stressed that no coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Syria so for, pointing out that the samples taken from suspected coronavirus cases and tested at the ministry’s laboratories were negative.

In a press conference he held jointly with Dr. Neama Saeed, the Resident Representative of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Syria, on Saturday in Damascus, Yaziji said that the government’s procedures and the high alert that the health sectors in on currently are precautionary measures against coronavirus and to prevent the spread of infection if any coronavirus case is confirmed.

 He added that the measures taken by the government at the border crossings, sea and land outlets as well as at airports aim at ensuring the safety of people coming to Syria. He reaffirmed the readiness of the epidemiological investigation teams as well as the well-equipped health centers countrywide to monitor and deal with any suspected coronavirus cases.

The minister noted coordination with other ministries to disseminate awareness about how to deal with and confront the disease.

Yazigi urged lifting the economic blockade imposed on Syria by the United States and western countries to help the Syrian health sector ensure requirements of treatment and respond to emergency cases.

On his part, the WHO representative hailed the Syrian government’s efforts to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the country, pointing out that the Health Ministry’s laboratory is qualified enough to diagnose infections.

He affirmed the necessity of avoiding rumors and urged adopting reliable sources of information about the disease, stressing that there is no need for panic about coronavirus, particularly because especially 80% of the disease cases in the world are simple and that only 15% of the cases need treatment at hospitals.

Hamda Mustafa