Syrian government closes schools and universities

The Syrian government announced a series of precautionary measures against Coronavirus, including closing schools and universities until April 2.

Syria, which has delayed its parliamentarian elections, has not reported any Coronavirus case yet.

In Aleppo, the government launched a campaign to sterilize the public transport to minimize the risk of infection among the passengers.

The government also said it was reducing working hours in public institutions and canceling all cultural and sporting events, and all other events involving large gatherings, for the time being.

Syria also says it has taken preventive measures at all ports and border crossings.

It has suspended travel with neighbouring countries Iraq and Jordan, and it has halted religious tourism for a month.

In Homs City, the Syrian government with the help of Al-Baath university officials launched a campaign to sterilize the university campus

Even in the tenth year of its devastating civil war, Syria has continued to receive large numbers of pilgrims from Iran, Iraq and neighbouring Lebanon.

They particularly visit the shrine of Sayida Zaynab, the prophet Muhammad's granddaughter, in a suburb of the capital Damascus.

The shrine itself remained open, and health officials were checking pilgrims' temperatures before allowing them entry.