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Syria Acknowledges One Coronavirus Case

Edward Yeranian

   CAIRO, EGYPT - After weeks of reporting that the country was free of
   the coronavirus, the Syrian government is saying that it has
   experienced its first case. Other unconfirmed reports, however, put the
   figure much higher.

   Responding to world efforts to halt the spread of the coronavirus, the
   Syrian government has decided to react more forcefully, disinfecting
   public squares, buildings and Damascus' iconicHamidiyaclosed market.

   Health MinisterNizarYazigitold state TV late Sunday that Syria has
   discovered its first confirmed case of the virus in a20 year-oldwoman
   arriving from abroad.

   He said that she was tested because she was arriving from a place that
   has suffered an outbreak of the virus and showed signs of a fever even
   though she wasnot sick. He said she is being quarantined for 14 days
   and will be monitored every four days.

   Rami AbdelRahmanof the Britain-based opposition Syrian Observatory for
   Human Rights told Arab media last week that the Syrian government is
   usinga number ofhospitals to quarantine suspected coronavirus cases
   among Iranian and Iraqi militia fighters, in both Damascus
   andDeirezZor. VOA could not independently confirm the claim.

   Reacting to the growing health crisis, Syria's council of ministers
   voted Sunday to stop all intercity public transport and close shopping
   malls and public markets,with the exception ofpharmacies and
   supermarkets.

   HusseinMakhlouf, minister of local government, told journalists that
   the government was taking strong measures to stop the spread of the
   virus.

   He said that the council of ministers has ordered the halt of all
   inter-city public transportation as of 8p.m.Monday along with the
   closure of non-essential businesses and social centers.

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