Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) Update, April 5, 2020
Palestinian Ministry of Health with the Governmental Institutions continue their successive precautionary measures to tackle the new coronavirus outbreak in Gaza Strip as follows:
1. MOH confirmed 12 cases in the Gaza Strip, six of them have recovered.
2. Most of the cases are asymptomatic, and no critical cases. All the cases are under observation at an isolated corona health facility at Rafah city, contacts tracing had been initiated for all cases.
3.1894returnees in one of the 27 designated quarantine facilities, which include primary health care facilities, schools, or hotels. 62% of them are receiving special medical care in hospitals. Those coming from crossings at Rafah or Beith Hanon have been quarantined since March 15.
4.MOH in Gaza has approved a set of measures to end the mandatory quarantine in the designated centers as follows:
• After completing 21-day quarantine period, the PCR test is performed for all quarantined between 18th day and 20th day.
• All quarantined will be tested to make sure they are free of any respiratory symptoms diseases (fever – dry cough). If any symptoms appear, the PCR will be tested, and the mandatory quarantine is extended.
• The completion of the quarantine procedures takes place on the 22nd day.
5.MOH has received a limited amount of medical aid. These quantities are not enough to enable us to face the corona pandemic outbreak.
6.Coronavirus testing materials are limited, and we will lose our ability to test for this virus in Gaza within a few days. MOH calls upon the relevant international authorities and organizations to donate sufficient amounts of PCR reagents.
7.We call upon all the local and international stakeholders to assume their role in supporting our urgent needs to confront the coronavirus outbreak, including medicines, medical consumables, personal protective equipment PPE, laboratory supplies, medical devices.
8.MOH in Gaza urgently needs 100 ventilators and 140 ICU beds to achieve a proper first response to face the coronavirus outbreak.
Ministry of Health – Gaza
April 5, 2020
