There are now 46 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in northern Syria. 4087 tests were performed and 31 patients have made a full recovery. UOSSM continues to respond by distributing N95 masks to medical centers, distributing hygiene kits, sanitizing displacement camps, establishing isolation centers and providing awareness to people and medical staff on coping, and preventing the spread of the coronavirus.

For the second day in a row, there are no new cases of COVID-19 in northern Syria. There are a total of 22 positive cases. 3189 tests were performed. UOSSM continues to respond to the pandemic and distributed over 50,000 N95 masks to over 29 hospitals in the area. 

On July 7, a 39 year old doctor working in north western Syria was tested for COVID-19 and was confirmed positive today. This is the first reported case of COVID-19 in north western Syria. The doctor entered Syria two weeks ago and visited his wife in Al Bab city (Aleppo Governate) between June 30 and July 1. The doctor immediately isolated himself upon symptoms, and contract-tracing procedures have been put in place for his interactions. Please click here to read the full press release.

In response to the #Covid19 pandemic, UOSSM Turkey has taken the following steps in Northern Syria:

- Sterilized three camps of dispacement (Alfurquan Camp, Alwafaa Camp, Kahatayn Camp).
- Distributed over 1000 hygiene kits (includes personal hygiene essentials for women and children).
- Distributed over 1000 food baskets with basic essentials to encourage people to stay home.
- Contributed to establish an isolation center in Afrin.
- Contributed to establish distance learning center in Afrin.
- Distributed awareness brochures on protection from Coronavirus in displacement camps.
- Over 10,000 people were reached with UOSSM Turkey awareness campaigns.
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#coronviruspandemic #syriawar #syrianrefugees #covid19syria#covid19 #NotATarget

In an interview with KRGV.com, Dr. Monzer Yazji, president of UOSSM USA, about the effects COVID19 has on mental health. He said, "There is an immediate psychological impact now, which comes with severe anxiety and depression, and other mental stress diseases." Please click here to watch the interview.

This UOSSM mobile clinic launched in February 2020. The clinic is providing care to the elderly in their tents at risk from COVID-19. In addition to other services, the clinic is providing awareness and educating people on preventative measures to protect from the Coronavirus.

The UOSSM Mobile Clinic medical team began offering physical and mental awareness sessions for displaced families in Tal Abyad. The team took all necessary prevention methods using social distancing, staying 6 feet apart, and wearing masks. The focus of the sessions was how to stay physically and mentally healthy with the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic. 

North Western #Syria is particularly vulnerable to the #coronavirus given that a population of over 4 million people, including 1 million IDP’s, is packed into densely populated areas. They don't have a home to #stayhome and #socialdistancing is not an option. Years of #war and #malnutrition have left many people's immune systems compromised and the entire population susceptible to drastically higher mortality rates. #Covid19 #stayhome.

UOSSM teams are taking several measures to prepare for the outbreak: the deployment of medical emergency mobile teams that will be operational 24/7, the improvement of existing medical infrastructures, the creation of specific centres for COVID-19, the protection of the medical teams and the diffusion of relevant information among the population to be able to contain the spread of the virus. In such context, TSF connections are essential. UOSSM doctors use our satellite equipment to communicate with the medical points and field hospitals and to coordinate the delivery of medical materials to the areas most in need. They can provide remote medical assistance and remain up-to-date with the latest medical researches and studies, which is paramount to face a new virus on which new information is shared every day. Please click here to read the full story.

CNN's Arwa Damon reports on a new potential killer for Syrians, COVID-19. They simply don't have the resources/ability to protect themselves against the #Coronavirus. Dr. Munzer Khalil, Director of the Idlib Health Directorate fears a tsunami of deaths if the virus spreads within crowded areas of displacement, with a decimated health care system, only 600 doctors, 201 ICU beds and around 100 ventilators for a population of over 4 million. Please click here to watch the video.