Syria has addressed the Russian Health Ministry with a request for aid in order to combat the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), Syrian Ambassador to Russia Riyad Haddad told.

Axar.az reports citing Russian media.

"Syria has addressed the Russian Health Ministry with a request to provide coronavirus detection equipment, as well as protection suits, testing and observation equipment in order to help the Syrian nation overcome the coronavirus," the ambassador said.

On Tuesday, SANA news agency informed, citing the Syrian Health Ministry, that the total number of COVID-19 cases in Syria has reached 19. Three people have recovered and two have died.