Coronavirus: Syria announces first confirmed case

Syria’s health minister has announced country's first confirmed coronavirus case

Last updated: March 22, 2020 | 23:37

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A member of the Syrian Civil Defence known as the "White Helmets" disinfects the interior of a mosque, as part of preventive measures taken against infections by the novel coronavirus, in the Syrian town of Dana, east of the Turkish-Syrian border in the northwestern Idlib province, on March 22, 2020.

AFP

Amman: Syria said on Sunday it had confirmed its first case of coronavirus, in a person who had come from abroad.

Health Minister Nizar Al Yaziji told state media the "necessary measures" had been taken.

There had been unconfirmed reports in recent weeks of coronavirus cases in Syria, whose health system, housing and infrastructure have been ravaged by nine years of civil war, but the authorities had denied them.

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