![A handout picture released by the official Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) on MAY 4, 2020 shows Syrian President Bashar al-Assad (L) meeting with members of the government team tasked with handling the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic in the capital Damascus. - == RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / HO / SANA" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS ==
/ AFP / SANA / - / == RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / HO / SANA" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS ==](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5JKJE6FNWJY2YXUCDXVK25GLZE.jpg?smart=true&auth=39fc1a7384507e70a673ccf2ea980961f7f80951471e50cfd33318651acfc0ba&width=400&height=225)
Syrian President Bashar Al Assad meets members of the government team handling Covid-19 in the capital Damascus. AFP
Syrian President Bashar Al Assad meets members of the government team handling Covid-19 in the capital Damascus. AFP
Syria's Assad warns of 'real catastrophe' if coronavirus cases spike
The government spent weeks refusing to acknowledge any cases before registering the first infection