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Syria records 20 new coronavirus cases in largest single-day increase

May 25, 2020 at 1:39 pm

Members of the Syrian Civil Defence (White Helmets) disinfect public places as a preventive measure against coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic in Idlib, Syria on March 24, 2020 [Muhammed Said / Anadolu Agency]

Syria reported 20 new cases of the novel coronavirus on Monday, the largest single-day increase to date, the health ministry said.

The war-torn country has recorded 106 infections and four deaths so far, and new cases have increased in recent days with the return of Syrians from abroad, the ministry said.

Syria has kept an overnight curfew in place but has begun to open some of its economy after a lockdown. Doctors and relief groups worry that medical infrastructure ravaged by nine years of conflict would make a more serious outbreak deadly and difficult to fend off.

Health Minister Nizar Yazigi said last week that “coercive and unfair” Western sanctions were hitting medical services needed to cope with coronavirus and he called for their removal.

Read: Syria’s Assad warns of ‘catastrophe’ if coronavirus cases spike