Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) WHO Update 15, Issued March 28 2020

occupied Palestinian territory, March 28, 2020 (epidemiological week 4)

• On 27 March 2020, the Ministry of Health (MoH) confirmed 7 new confirmed cases in the West Bank and on 28 March an additional 6 new cases in the West Bank. No new cases were reported for Gaza in this period
• The total number of cases in all oPt is 97, including 88 cases in West Bank and 9 cases in Gaza (see Graph 1 for geographical locations of confirmed cases and Graph 2 for cases per day and Graph 3 for cumulative confirmed cases). MoH has reported a total of 18 cases have recovered
• Most cases do not present clinical symptoms and none are critical. All new cases are under medical observation at designated health facilities. Contact tracing was initiated for all cases
• In Gaza, those coming from crossings at Rafah or Erez have been quarantined since March 15 and people are in quarantine either at Rafah border quarantine or at health facilities, schools or hotels designated as quarantine facilities. Home quarantine ended 26 March for those who entered Gaza 14 days prior
• Work at outpatient clinics, non-emergency surgeries, and visits to inpatients at public hospitals have all been suspended. Other precautionary measures include closing the weekly open markets in all governorates of the Gaza Strip, and restricting social gatherings like weddings and funerals
• On 26 March 2020, the Palestinian Authority released the National COVID-19 Response Plan that outlined the strategic measures from a number of key sectors, including health, economy and social protection to contain the outbreak. The amount of $120 million planned by the PA for a period of 90 days is needed to support the proposed measures
• On 27 March 2020, the humanitarian clusters under the leadership of Humanitarian Coordinator and with support from WHO have released an updated inter-agency multi-sectoral COVID-19 response plan totaling $34 million for a period of 90 days. The plan aligns the collective efforts of the UN and its partners to support the Palestinian Authority’s lead National Response Plan to manage the impact of COVID-19 as well as with the global UN appeal issued by the UN Secretary General on 25 March 2020
• The health response part of the oPt inter-agency plan asks for $19.5 million to support immediate priority COVID-19 response actions developed by partners to support containment and to address immediate health system gaps in laboratory testing, case management and infection prevention and control
• The UN Humanitarian Coordinator has released 1 Million USD from the humanitarian pooled fund to address immediate priority needs and WHO and partners are working with the donor community to mobilize further resources to support the government’s efforts and to address identified priority COVID-19 response actions to support containment and to address immediate health system gaps
• The humanitarian clusters under the leadership of Humanitarian Coordinator and with support from WHO are working on the update of the inter-agency multi-sectoral COVID-19 response plan. The plan outlines immediate priority COVID-19 response actions developed by partners to support containment and to address immediate system gaps in health, education and other social sectors
• WHO urges the public to obtain the latest information on COVID-19 from key sources such as MoH (dashboard) and WHO (see Twitter, Facebook and oPt website), and follow and promote the recommended basic preventive and protective measures.

*Information provided by Palestinian Authority Ministry of Health on March 28 at 11:00 (GMT + 2)

WHO is continuing to work with partners to support Ministry of Health’s (MoH) efforts to respond to the COVID-19 situation in oPt.

WHO coordinated the preparation of an inter-agency COVID-19 response plan for the oPt with a list of priority actions for the next three months.

To support the COVID-19 response in the West Bank and Gaza, since the beginning of the response WHO has delivered:

• COVID-19 testing kits to conduct an estimated 5,760 tests alongside with swabs for collection of samples and other laboratory supplies required for COVID-19 testing
• Personal Protective Equipment and hand sanitizers to protect an estimated 2,000 health workers
• Infrastructure supplies for isolation facilities in Jericho
• More than 100,000 brochures and posters to the public with practical advice on how to prevent COVID-19.

In addition WHO is purchasing 25 types of medical disposable items to be used in health facilities designated to treat COVID-19 patients in the Gaza Strip

The MOH have implemented effective measures to ensure early detection and case management of any suspected COVID-19 case and so far have ensured that:

• In the West Bank, quarantine and treatment facilities and emergency committees are being established in key governorates
• the Ministry of Health has developed a new COVID-19 dashboard (in Arabic) to track cases: https://www.corona.ps/
• A central operations room has been established at Prime Minister’s office to coordinate activities, including contacts with media
• laboratory capacities of the MoH in Ramallah have been scaled up
• Point of entry checks for incoming travelers are being conducted and isolation wards in health facilities have been established
• health workers are equipped and trained in the appropriate infection prevention and control measures and case management of potential COVID-19 case across the oPt
• the general public continues to be regularly updated, including advice on how to protect themselves
• preparedness is also progressing in Gaza but there are substantial capacity gaps to be addressed.

The response is ongoing in the Gaza Strip.

WHO toured quarantine and health facilities in Gaza on March 22 to further support health authorities preparedness for COVID-19  and delivered lab testing kits, personal protective equipment to support the response to COVID-19.

The national COVID-19 committee met to discuss further measures and has supported:

• the establishment of a Field Hospital at the Rafah Crossing featuring a 38-bed treatment facility with 6 intensive care unit beds and 30 for moderate cases. The quarantine area includes 50 rooms for quarantined travelers
• Gaza European Hospital to be designated to absorb and treat additional cases once the capacity of the field hospital would get exhausted
• the establishment of a medical check point at Erez Crossing.

Substantial capacity gaps still need to be addressed including the procurement of essential medical supplies and equipment (including lab testing kits).