Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) Situation Update 26
occupied Palestinian territory, issued 30 April 2020 (epidemiological wk 9)
Information for period: 5 March -30 April 2020
Highlights
- A total of 507 COVID-19 cases in oPt including 490 in West Bank (including 163 in East Jerusalem) and 17 in Gaza Strip
- WHO delivered 46,000 personal protective equipment items and lab testing kits to local health authorities
WHO delivered 46,000 items of essential personal protective equipment and antiseptics to the MoH in Ramallah to protect frontline health workers from COVID-19, funded by oPt humanitarian Fund the Government of Kuwait.
WHO Preparedness, readiness and response
WHO is continuing to work with partners to support Ministry of Health’s (MoH) efforts to respond to the COVID-19 situation in the occupied Palestinian Territory (oPt).
Surveillance
- The total number of cases in oPt is 507, including 490 cases in the West Bank and 17 in the Gaza Strip. In the West Bank, most cases are from East Jerusalem (163), Jerusalem Governorate (140), followed by Ramallah (68), Bethlehem (59) and Hebron (41). In the Gaza Strip, all confirmed cases are from Gaza City. A total of 11 health workers are among those confirmed cases
- To-date, the Ministry of Health (MoH) reported a total of 94 cases have recovered (84 in West Bank, including 24 in East Jerusalem and 10 in Gaza) and four people have died in the oPt: case fatality rate (CFR) is 0.78%
- About two-thirds (65%) of all confirmed cases are male (226 cases) and about 82% of all cases (282 cases) are below the age of 50 years in the oPt excluding East Jerusalem.
Updated WHO COVID-19 Dashboard for oPt
Click on our revised COVID-19 dashboard to access comprehensive and interactive insights about the epidemiology and response to COVID-19 in the oPt.
Laboratory diagnostics
- A total of 30,517 laboratory samples have been tested for COVID-19 in the oPt according to the MoH
- In the Gaza Strip, health authorities are continuing to appeal for support to procure additional lab testing kits. A total of 4,615 samples have been tested, including some outside of Gaza
- WHO delivered lab testing kits to support COVID-19 testing of more than 1,100 people in the Gaza Strip (on April 30), with thanks to support from UK aid
- With a global and local shortage of lab supplies and other medical equipment, large quantities of essential items are challenging to procure but WHO is working to try and address this to support oPt’s COVID-19 response.
WHO delivered lab testing kits to support COVID-19 testing of more than 1,100 people in the Gaza Strip (on April 30), with thanks to support from UK aid
Infection Prevention and Control (IPC), Isolation and Case Management and Operations support and logistics
- According to the MoH, more than 13,034 Palestinians are in quarantine (home or facility-based) for monitoring of their symptoms and ensuring early detection of cases
- During the Holy Month of Ramadan, the Palestinian Authority has imposed daily movement restrictions from 19.00 until early in the morning
- WHO delivered the following 46,000 items of essential personal protective equipment (PPE) and antiseptics to the Ministry of Health in Ramallah to help protect frontline health workers from COVID-19: 20,000 surgical masks; 8,000 N95 masks; 3,000 reusable face shields; 2,000 protective goggles; 5,000 full body gowns; and 8,000 bottles of alcogel. The delivery was made possible through the oPt humanitarian Fund and the Government of Kuwait
- In the Gaza Strip, 12 people have recovered from COVID-19, out of which 9 were discharged home and three were moved to quarantine facilities at Rafah crossing. Five confirmed cases remain in isolation at Rafah crossing field hospital
- More than 1,940 people are in one of the 21 operational quarantine facilities which include designated primary health facilities, schools or hotels
- Despite the low number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Gaza Strip, WHO is encouraging people in Gaza to maintain the recommended measures to keep families safe from COVID-19 and to prevent its spread including physical distancing and personal hygiene measures
- WHO and UNICEF continue to scale up procurement efforts to mobilize life-saving essential Intensive Care Unit and ventilator equipment through global supply mechanisms. More essential supplies are on the way for West Bank and Gaza, with thanks to support from multiple donors including the oPt Humanitarian Fund .
East Jerusalem
- As of 29 April 2020 (17:30), the Palestinian Authority’s Ministry of Health reported 163 COVID-19 cases in East Jerusalem with five new cases from Shufat, Issawiya, Beit Safa and Al-Tur. Two deaths have been reported (CFR- 3.1%) and 27 recovered in the same period.
- COVID-19 patients from East Jerusalem continue to be managed by the East Jerusalem Hospital Network (EJHN) and Israeli Hospitals. There are currently six patients with COVID-19 (three at St Joseph Hospital, three in need for kidney dialysis at Hadassah Hospital) and eight confirmed health worker cases of COVID-19 from the same hospital all under quarantine
- Despite donor pledges, the EJHN hospitals are still in urgent need of medical supplies and equipment to be fully prepared to receive COVID-19 patients. Global shortages also contribute to the shortage in ventilators; currently there are a total of 22 ventilators at AVH, St Joseph and Makassed Hospital, meeting only 10% of needs according to AVH
- In supporting the response to the COVID-19 crisis, WHO is coordinating with the EJHN to address the health needs of Palestinians in East Jerusalem, focusing on provision of technical guidance, risk communication and community engagement to disseminate public health advice for prevention of COVID-19 and advocacy with donors to fund the priority needs.
Document Type: Situation Report, Update
Document Sources: World Health Organization (WHO)
Subject: Health
Publication Date: 30/04/2020
Document Sources: World Health Organization (WHO)
Subject: Health
Publication Date: 30/04/2020