Residents of Damascus, Syria, April 1, 2020 (Louai Beshara/AFP/Getty)

The Assad regime’s Health Minister has finally acknowledged that Damascus is not stating the actual toll from Cornavirus in Syria.

Nizar Yazigi made the statement on Tuesday as he officially three new cases of the virus, raising the total to 42.

Yazigi emphasized that “all the announced Coronavirus infections were detected in Damascus and its countryside”, saying there have been no cases registered in other Syrian cities.

But he then said that there may be more cases, but “we don’t know about them yet”.

Medical personnel, analysts, and residents have said, since the start of the outbreak, that the regime is not reporting the actual extent of the virus across Syria.

The first case was not admitted until March 22, and only three deaths from the virus have been announced so far.

Concerned about shortages and an economy which has lost 75% of its GDP in Syria’s nine-year conflict, the regime has begun loosening social distancing measures which it instituted in mid-March.

On Saturday, the Cabinet declared that all commercial and services firms can resume activity for 1-2 days each week from 8 am to 3 pm. Barber shops and beauty salons can open from Sunday to Thursday.

But Yazigi gave clues that the situation is more serious than has been officially admitted.

He pointed to concern over the extent of the virus where cases have been recorded, citing “preventive measures” near the Sayyeda Zeinab shrine in southern Damascus and in Mnein town near the capital.

The Minister also said that Syria had not received urgently-necessary ventilators, while blaming this on US and European sanctions.