A photo shared online shows civilians overcrowded in a volleyball playground ignoring the importance of wearing masks which violates all the precautionary measures introduced to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic among the public. SNHR managed to identify the site and the date of this photo which was taken in Sarmada city in the northern suburbs f Idlib governorate on October 4, 2020, following a match of two volleyball teams.
SNHR notes that the epidemiological surveillance laboratory of the early warning, alert and response network (EWARN) declared the first positive test of coronavirus Covid-19 in north Syria on July 9, 2020, with the total number of cases so far reaching 1,225 with 14 deaths as of the current date.
We affirm that the responsibility for raising awareness and ensuring compliance with the essential health measures lies with the local council and the governing forces, as well as the relevant sports organizations, and urge the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces, in coordination with all its apparatuses and bodies, to also take serious action in regard to this issue, by promoting and encouraging the idea of wearing masks and physical and social distancing, and by issuing bulletins and regular data on the latest figures and following up on the implementation of these measures to preserve the safety of all members of society and minimize the risk of infection and death.
