Syria’s president, wife test positive for COVID-19

COVID-19

Syria’s President, Bashar al-Assad and his wife, Asma, have tested positive for COVID-19 after showing minor symptoms, according to a statement by the presidential office, Aljazeera reports.

The couple were in good health and would continue to work while in isolation at home for a period of two to three weeks, it said on Monday.

War-torn Syria has seen a sharp rise in COVID-19 infections since mid-February but lockdown options remain limited due to the country’s dire economic situation, a member of the country’s coronavirus advisory committee said last week.

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Al-Assad’s government started administering COVID-19 vaccinations to front-line healthcare workers on March 1.

Syria has officially recorded a total of 15,981 cases and 1,063 deaths since the start of the pandemic.

However, actual numbers are believed to be much higher owing to the government’s limited testing capability.