Coronavirus continues to claim the lives of the Syriac people in Sweden, France and Turkey

PARIS / STOCKHOLM – The novel coronavirus COVID-19 continues to claim more Syriac lives in France, which has the fourth highest COVID-19 death toll after Italy, Spain, and the United States. The total deaths by COVID-19 in China, where the virus first spread, puts it at sixth worldwide, however, international experts have questioned the official numbers with some estimating the death toll may be as high as 40,000.

The number of deaths from COVID-19 continue to rise globally, with numbers continuing to increase in hard hit areas of Europe.

According to SyriacPress’s informed sources in Paris and Sarcelles, the number of Syriac deaths in France has risen to 18.

In Sweden, home to many Syriac expatriates, COVID-19 continues to claim more lives, 333 as of 4 April, 17 of which have been Syriacs.

SyriacPress’s informed sources in France and Sweden warned of the rapidity of the spread of the new virus among the Syriac people, including those in hospitals. Most deaths in the Syriac (Chaldean-Aramean-Assyrian) community have been among the elderly, specifically those of 70 years old.

In Turkey a Syriac originally from Mardin but living for years in Istanbul passed away. He probably contracted the virus weeks ago after a visit to Italy.

In Enschede, the Netherlands an elderly man died after contracting the coronavirus.