Syria declares first coronavirus death

3D print of a spike protein of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19–in front of a 3D print of a SARS-CoV-2 virus particle. The spike protein (foreground) enables the virus to enter and infect human cells. On the virus model, the virus surface (blue) is covered with spike proteins (red) that enable the virus to enter and infect human cells. Credit: NIH

A woman in Syria died on Sunday of the novel coronavirus, the health ministry said, marking the country’s first officially declared death from COVID-19.

“The woman died as soon as she was admitted to hospital,” the health ministry said in a statement carried by state news agency SANA.

“After testing, it was found that she was a carrier of the coronavirus,” the statement added, without providing additional details.

In addition to the death, Syria has officially reported nine other coronavirus cases.

Fears are high that the virus could spread rapidly among the war-battered country’s most vulnerable communities.

The violence-plagued northwest, where around a million people have been displaced by conflict since December alone, is particularly vulnerable.

To slow the spread of the virus, the Syrian government on Sunday banned movement between provinces until April 16th.

It also enforced a decision to prohibit travel within the boundaries of each province until further notice.

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