Civic initiatives and administrative procedures to reduce the spread of Coronavirus in SDF-controlled areas

The Syrian Observatory has monitored community initiatives aimed at raising awareness of the spread of Coronavirus pandemic in all SDF-controlled areas in the provinces of Hasakeh, Deir ez-Zor, Raqqa and eastern Aleppo countryside.

On March 15, the “self-administration” of Northern and Eastern Syria announced the suspension of work in all its official departments except those whose work requires continuing to operate from March 16 to 19, with the aim of allowing medical committees to sterilize complexes, institutions and public buildings, as a new measure to prevent the spread of Coronavirus, and schools were closed until further notice.

The “self-administration” closed the crossings with regime-controlled areas and crossings connected with Turkish-backed factions areas, Simakka crossing and Al-Waleed crossing as well.

The celebrations of the Kurdish National Day of “Nowruz” were cancelled in all areas, as well as the closure of restaurants, cafes and public gathering places. Sterilized ambulances and equipped were allocated to transport any suspected case of the Coronavirus.

Furthermore, the “self-administration” trained a health team from the Kurdish Red Crescent in all areas to take preliminary action, and the Health Authority called on the concerned international organizations to provide them with the supplies to confront the Coronavirus.

Meanwhile, “self-administration” measures and decisions on Coronavirus caused a downturn in purchasing in the markets in all areas by 57 per cent, as some traders closed their shops for the fear of spread of the virus.