(COVID-19)Updates in Gaza Strip, May 4, 2020

1- MOH confirmed 17 cases with coronavirus; 12 of them have recovered and three are still under supervision, the remaining 3 patients are still under treatment. Most of the patients are asymptomatic and no critical cases among them.
2- 339 new samples were performed during the past 24 hours, with no new positive cases.
3- MOH ended the mandatory quarantine for 205 returnees from outside Gaza and preparing to end mandatory quarantine for another 362 in the few coming hours.
4- MOH suffering from a chronic shortage in the basic medical consumables, presented in 44%of essential drugs, 29%medical supplies, and 56% of laboratory reagents.
Since the beginning of the year 2020
5- Ramallah MoH sent 5% of the annual need of the Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip.
Gaza’s needs are estimated at 47 million USD annually.
6- Today, we appeal to the United Nations and the bodies of concern to urgently provide the health sector in Gaza with medical consumables, medicines, personal protective equipment PPE, ventilators, and examination kits to diagnose coronavirus, to preserve the lives of the population. We also appeal to pressurize the occupation authorities to end the suffocating siege that has been affecting all humanitarian aspects of 2 million people for more than 13 years.
Palestinian Ministry of Health-Gaza
May 4, 2020