1 - While only 2,365 cases of #coronavirus were recorded in government controlled #Syria as of Aug 25, @SyriaContext estimates there are up to 100,000 cases in Damascus alone. My latest for @TheNationalUAE thenational.ae/world/mena/syr…
2 - Public hospitals are overflowing with #coronavirus patients in Damascus, pushing people to pay for extortionate fees for either a private hospital visit (costing up to 300,000SYP/night), a home care nurse or buying their own oxygen tank from an #Assad crony businessman.
3 - A maximum of 400 tests are being conducted a day in Damascus, the WHO spox said - but 300 are reserved at $100 each for people wishing to leave the country. A resident of #Damascus told me she was afraid of going to hospital because no staff are wearing PPE.
