COVID-19 cases increasingly rapidly in northeast Syria
The Kurdish-led autonomous region's high population of displaced people and isolation following the UN closure of a border crossing is contributing to the virus' spread.
COVID-19 cases are increasing rapidly in northeast Syria. The war-torn region is susceptible to an outbreak due to the effects of recent conflicts and the closure of an aid crossing in January.
Coronavirus cases have increased significantly in August in northeast Syria. There were 327 total cases in the area as of Aug. 21, according to a report from Qamishli-based Rojava Information Center. This included a 145-case increase that week. There were at least 300 new cases in three weeks, the center said on Aug. 24, showing that the majority of the region’s confirmed cases are recent.
The International Rescue Committee — a humanitarian non-governmental organization operating in northeast Syria — said on Thursday that COVID-19 cases have increased by 1,000% in August in a release sent to Al-Monitor. There are 425 confirmed cases in northeast Syria, a spokesperson for the organization said the same day.
In a statement sent to Al-Monitor, Doctors Without Borders said that a fifth of those infected are health workers.
