![\"Syria-Bashar-al-Assad-and-wife-Asma-test-positive-for-COVID-19-rapidnews\"](\"https:\/\/dailyrapidnews.com\/eng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Syria-Bashar-al-Assad-and-wife-Asma-test-positive-for-COVID-19-rapidnews-dailyrapid.jpg\")
<\/p>\nSyria\u2019s President Bashar al-Assad and his wife, Asma, have tested positive for COVID-19 after showing minor symptoms, according to a statement by the presidential office.<\/p>\n
The couple were in good health and would continue to work while in isolation at home for a period of two to three weeks, it said on Monday.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
War-torn Syria has seen a sharp rise in COVID-19 infections since mid-February but lockdown options remain limited due to the country\u2019s dire economic situation, a member of the country\u2019s coronavirus advisory committee said last week.<\/p>\n
Al-Assad\u2019s government started administering COVID-19 vaccinations to front-line healthcare workers on March 1.<\/p>\n
Syria has officially recorded a total of 15,981 cases and 1,063 deaths since the start of the pandemic. However, actual numbers are believed to be much higher owing to the government\u2019s limited testing capability.<\/p>\n
With a collapsed healthcare system, battered economy and a severe lack of doctors and nurses due to medical providers fleeing Syria\u2019s brutal war, authorities face an\u00a0uphill battle\u00a0to control the spread of COVID-19.<\/p>\n
The government imposed a nationwide curfew when the pandemic first hit last year but restaurants, shops and schools reopened as the lockdown was gradually eased starting from May.<\/p>\n
Mask wearing is required in government offices and on crowded public transport.<\/p>\n
Syria\u2019s devastating conflict began in 2011 as a mass uprising against al-Assad\u2019s rule but quickly morphed into a full-fledged war that has killed hundreds of thousands of people, displaced millions and drawn in foreign powers.<\/p>\n
There have been no significant health issues recently reported about al-Assad.<\/p>\n
In August, the 55-year-old trained ophthalmologist halted a speech in Parliament, telling legislators he needed to \u201csit down for a minute\u201d after suffering a drop in blood pressure.<\/p>\n
In 2018, Asma al-Assad, 45, underwent treatment for breast cancer, which the presidency said had been detected early. A year later, she said she recovered fully.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Syria\u2019s President Bashar al-Assad and his wife, Asma, have tested positive for COVID-19 after showing<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6195,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"spay_email":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6193","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-world"],"yoast_head":"\n