Syria reports first COVID-19 death

A woman in Syria died of the novel coronavirus, the health ministry says, marking the country’s first officially declared death from COVID-19.

“The woman died as soon as she was admitted to hospital,” the health ministry says in a statement carried by state news agency SANA.

“After testing, it was found that she was a carrier of the coronavirus,” the statement adds, without providing additional details.

In addition to the death, Syria has officially reported nine other coronavirus cases.

Fears are high that the virus could spread rapidly among the war-battered country’s most vulnerable communities.

The violence-plagued northwest, where around a million people have been displaced by conflict since December alone, is particularly vulnerable.

To slow the spread of the virus, the Syrian government on Sunday bans movement between provinces until April 16th.

It also enforces a decision to prohibit travel within the boundaries of each province until further notice.

— AFP