Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad and his wife have tested positive for COVID-19, his office has confirmed.

Officials said 55-year-old President Assad and his wife Asma are both in “good health and in a stable condition”.

The pair will return to work after spending two to three weeks in isolation in their home.

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In a statement, Mr Assad’s office said the couple took PCR tests after they felt minor symptoms consistent with coronavirus.

Syria, which marks 10 years of war next week, has recorded nearly 16,000 cases of COVID-19 and more than 1,000 deaths from the virus, according to Johns Hopkins University.

The country began a vaccination campaign last week, but no details have been given about the process.

The health minister said the government procured the vaccines from a friendly country, which he declined to name.

It was not immediately clear if Mr Assad and his family members have been vaccinated.

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