The COVID-19 pandemic in Syria was part of the pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The disease was confirmed to have reached Syria on 22 March 2020, when the first case was confirmed of a person who came from abroad. Syria has been considered especially vulnerable to the pandemic due to its civil war and dire humanitarian situation.
On 12 January 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that a novel coronavirus was the cause of a respiratory illness in a cluster of people in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, which was reported to the WHO on 31 December 2019. Many people in Syria did not have confidence in the government's transparency during the pandemic, accusing it of hiding the true numbers of cases and deaths, especially in Damascus, Rif Dimashq, and Aleppo. It has been speculated that doctors in hospitals and medical facilities were being threatened with being fired or even being arrested and detained by the government forces if they said anything about the truth of what was happening in the hospitals. It has also been rumoured that the Syrian state has even gone so far as to suggest terminating the lives of suspected COVID-19 patients. This led people who are experiencing some symptoms or even being sure about being infected to not telling the government nor seeking governmental or even private medical care, and quarantining themselves at home out of fear if possible. Analysts reasoning with these claims highlight the example of misinformation about the government's numbers is the number of cases registered in neighboring countries of people arriving from Syria, and sometimes that number in one day was greater than those reported by the Syrian government during a certain period of time.
The late Syrian government, which was overthrown in late 2024, along with its allies, claimed that the civil war, in combination with the economic situation in Syria and sanctions by Western governments, limited the capacity in which adequate COVID-19 PCR tests can be conducted and prevent vital supplies for treating and managing the pandemic from being imported. The response was led by Health Minister Hassan al-Ghabbash since 2020.
Timeline
March 2020 2 March: The government of the Kurdistan Region in Iraq, ordered the complete closure of the Semalka Border Crossing at the Iraq–Syria border into the Kurdish-led Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria until further notice as "a precautionary measure to prevent the transmission of the coronavirus to the areas of autonomous administration of North and East Syria, excluding emergency cases".
10 March: The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that there have been outbreaks of COVID-19 in Tartus, Damascus, Homs and Latakia provinces. According to the UK-based monitor's sources, a strict gag order has been issued to forbid medical personnel from discussing the issue.
11 March: A health official from the Jazira Region in the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria said that there are no documented cases of COVID-19 in the province. Kurdistan TV reported from Qamishli, the largest Kurdish city in Syria, stating that 1% of the population in the city are wearing protective masks, as pharmacies and medical equipment sales centers were running low on the supply of masks. Furthermore, by 11 March, four suspected cases of COVID-19 had been reported to the Syrian Health Authority, which contacted the World Health Organization. The tests came back as negative.
13 March: A ministerial team approved a series of precautionary steps, including the suspension of universities, schools, and institutes as of 14 March. The Syrian General Sports Federation announced that all sports activities will be suspended starting 14 March.
14 March: The Ministry of Education announced suspension of lessons and studying in public and private schools and as of Saturday 14 March until Thursday, 2 April. The Ministry of Higher Education and scientific Research decided to postpone all exams in public and private universities, including open education system examinations, the national exam and language tests for master's degree from Saturday 14 March until 2 April. The Ministry of Endowments announced suspension of all schools, secondary, the religious institutes, University of the Levant for Islamic Science, Dar Al Aman Foundation for Orphans Care (NGO) and Sons of martyrs which are affiliated to the ministry from Saturday 14 March until 2 April. The Pakistani Chief Minister of Sindh province alleged that nationals returning from the Middle East had imported the disease. Out of 14 confirmed cases in Sindh province, eight had a travel history that included Syria. The day earlier, World Health Organization said that all Pakistani cases were imported, but without mentioning the exact origin of those. The Syrian government denied any cases of COVID-19 in the country. Nevertheless, authorities delayed upcoming parliamentary elections, shut down schools, and canceled most public events to prevent any spread of the coronavirus. The Kurdish-led Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria canceled all gatherings, limited entry to the region to residents only on Tuesdays of each week and closed all schools, universities and educational institutes until further notice.
15 March: The Cabinet tasked the Industry Ministry with instructing private sector factories that produce cleaning and sanitization products to work at maximum capacity with no less than three shifts to ensure their availability. The Ministries were instructed to implement the decision to reduce working hours and to provide the necessary cleaning and sanitization products at work places. The Cabinet also decided to cancel the export of all the medical requirements and equipment for diagnosis and quarantine centers.
19 March: The Kurdish-led Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria imposed a curfew starting from 23 March at 06:00 am and prohibited movement among the subregions of northeastern Syria, as well as among the major cities within each region starting from 21 March at 06:00. Restaurants, cafes, commercial centers, bazaars, public parks, private medical clinics, wedding halls and mourning tents are to be closed while hospitals, public and private health centers, international organizations, the Red Cross and Crescent, pharmacies, sterilization committees, cleaners, bakeries, food stores, food and baby milk trucks and fuel tanks were excluded from the ban.
20 March: Damascus Governorate and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent began disinfection of Yusuf al-Azma Square and other areas of Damascus.
21 March: Prime Minister Imad Khamis issued a circular asking ministers to take the necessary decisions to suspend work in the ministries and their affiliated entities starting from the next day until further notice as long as the suspension does not constitute an obstacle to efforts to face the risks of the spread of the Coronavirus. The circular reduces the number of workers in essential institutions to the minimum possible, and comes into effect starting Sunday, 22 March 2020 until further notice. Khamis underlined that the suspension of work does not include productive facilities and institutions. The Prime Minister also issued another circular requiring governors to take the necessary measures to close markets and suspend all commercial, service, cultural and social activities. The circular excluded centers of selling foodstuffs, pharmacies and private health centers with an emphasis on the necessity for the exempted parties to abide by measures and procedures of the public health and safety. The objective of both circulars is to minimize the movement of citizens in markets and elsewhere. General Command of the Syrian Army and Armed Forces announced suspension of the recruitment measures for the military service. The army command also suspended legal procedures related to summoning the charged citizens or legally prosecuting those who do not attend because of the current health conditions. The Ministry Interior decided to stop the work of renewing and granting passports, travel documents, all kinds of residences, driving licenses and criminal record documents starting Monday, 23 March 2020 until further notice.
22 March: The Cabinet suspended all forms of mass public and private transportation within provinces as of 8pm on Monday and between provinces as of 8pm on Tuesday, with the stipulation that ministries, union, and private production establishments provide transportation for their workers. The Cabinet also adopted the plan of the Health Ministry and other ministries for the next six months to confront the Coronavirus, which involves expanding quarantine and isolation centers, forming 19 emergency teams for epidemical detection, and setting up addition labs for diagnosing the virus in Damascus, Lattakia, and Aleppo in cooperation with the World Health Organization. In addition, the Cabinet allowed private sector establishments that produce sanitizers and detergents to import the necessary materials for making sanitizers and rubbing alcohol for 15 days. The Cabinet affirmed that stocks of consumer products are available and sufficient for the coming months, requesting that the Internal Trade and Consumer Protection Ministry send cars to distribute bread in city centers and rural areas. The Health Minister of Syria reported the first case of COVID-19 in Syria.
23 March: The Ministry of Press decided to suspend the publication of printed newspapers until further notice.
24 March: The Ministry of Interior declared a curfew from 6pm to 6am, effective starting next day (Wednesday, 25 March).
25 March: The Ministry of Health reported three new cases. The three new cases were among those quarantined in the Dwair center after being abroad. Later the same day, around 19:00 local time, one new case was reported.
27 March: The government declared that commuting of citizens between province centers and all other urban and rural areas is disallowed at all times excluding those with clearance, starting Sunday, 29 March at 2 p.m. local time. A 53-year-old man was admitted to hospital in the government-held part of Qamishli in northeast Syria. He was tested for coronavirus and the test was sent to Damascus for analysis.
29 March: The Ministry of Health reported that a woman died just after she arrived in hospital, and later she tested positive for the Coronavirus. The Ministry of Health announced 4 new cases were registered
30 March: The Ministry of Health announced one new death.
April 2020 1 April: The Minister of Health said that authorities imposed a lockdown on Mneen town in Rif Dimashq Governorate to preserve public safety after the death of a woman from there because of COVID-19.
2 April: The Ministry of Health announced 6 new cases. The Ministry of Health announced that a lockdown was imposed on Al-Sayeda Zainab in Rif Dimashq Governorate to preserve public health and safety. The previously mentioned man in Qamishli dies of coronavirus the same day his test results come back positive. The man had no travel history outside the country.
4 April: The Ministry of Health announced two recoveries.
5 April: The Ministry of Health announced three new cases.
7 April: The Ministry of Health announced one recovery.
8 April: The Ministry of Health announced one recovery.
11 April: The Ministry of Health announced 6 new cases and one recovery.
14 April: The Ministry of Health announced 4 new cases.
15 April: The Ministry of Health announced 4 new cases.
17 April: The Ministry of Health announced 5 new cases. The Ministry of Health said in a statement that the government decided to lift lockdown on Al-Sayeda Zainab area after completing coronavirus tests for people in contact with infected patients and confirmed cases.