Students Start School in Regime-Held Areas Amid Strict Measures

Asharq Al-Awsat (Syria)

More than 3 million Syrian students started school in regime-held areas Sunday, marking the first school day amid strict measures to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 disease.

Among the precautionary measures taken by the Ministry of Education were the disinfection of all classrooms, walls, floors, stairs and bathrooms of schools, regime media said. Students’ temperatures will be checked as well.

Syria, which had a population of 23 million before its conflict began in March 2011, has registered 3,506 confirmed coronavirus cases as well as 152 deaths in regime-held areas.

The actual number of cases is believed to be much higher, as the number of tests being done in the country is very low and many people in rural areas are unaware they are carrying the virus.

Coronavirus tests at private clinics cost around $60, far too expensive for most Syrians, whose average salary is less than $100 a month. The government conducts about 300 free tests each day for people showing symptoms.