SANAA, July 14 (Xinhua) -- The Houthi-controlled health authorities eased restrictions designed to curb the spread of COVID-19 in northern Yemen, Houthi-run al-Masirah TV reported on Tuesday.

The decision came after the imposed measures have resulted "positive impact" related to control the spread of the coronavirus, said the television, citing a statement by the local health authorities.

The Houthi-controlled areas have never gone into either partial or total lockdown since the pandemic hit the northern provinces in early May and life has continued largely as normal.

In Sanaa and the other northern provinces, most people don't maintain social distancing and many don't wear face masks.

Yemen has been mired in civil war since late 2014, when the Iran-backed Houthi militia seized control of much of the country's north and forced the Saudi-backed government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi out of the capital Sanaa.

The more than five years of war has destroyed more than half of the country's health system and triggered the spread of many epidemics, such as cholera and malaria.

The war has killed tens of thousands of people, displaced over 3 million and pushed more than 20 million to the brink of starvation. Enditem

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