Increasing number of coronavirus infections across Syria, large outbreak among students in Aleppo and Daramsuq universities

DARAMSUQ and ZALIN, Syria — The Health Directorate of the Democratic Autonomous Administration (DAA) of North and East Syria announced on Wednesday morning the death of a 58-year-old man from Dayrik (Al-Malikiyah) from the coronavirus. The Health Directorate also announced the recording of one recovery and 31 new infections, 20 men and 11 women distributed in Zalin (Qamishli) (14), Hasakah (7), Dayrik (3), Qabre Hewore (Al-Qahtaniyah) (3), Rmelan (2), Kerki Laki (1), and Dayro Zcuro (Deir ez-Zor) (1).

The total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in North and East Syria is 425, including 27 deaths and 75 recoveries.

Short on resources and with little in the way of international aid or assistance, the coronavirus outbreak in North and East Syria is likely to worsen.

The dire situation is exacerbated by the ongoing Turkish campaign to deprive the region of potable water necessary for proper hygiene and sanitation.

As the number of people infected with the virus increases across Syria, the Syrian regime is still not taking precautionary measures to prevent its spread. On 5 August, the Ministry of Higher Education in Daramsuq (Damascus) issued a decree requiring university exams to be held on time despite an increasing number of cases.

According to an official source at Aleppo University, they students with the coronavirus have been allowed to take their quarterly exams with the rest of the students without being isolated in private halls. The same source indicated that there are large numbers of students infected with the virus.

There is reportedly great resentment among students who have demanded that classrooms be allocated for infected students and that exams be postponed. So far, their complaints have fallen on deaf ears.

On Tuesday, the Syrian newspaper al-Watan, which is close to the regime, revealed that 13 teachers at Damascus University had died from the virus.

The Syrian regime continues to hide the true magnitude of the coronavirus outbreak in the country.