Palestine Pandemic :
According to the latest figures released by the Palestinian health department, from the outbreak of COVID-19 to now, there have been 15,457 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the Gaza Strip, of which 69 have died.
About 2 million Palestinians live in a narrow area of only 365 square kilometers, and the density and congestion can be imagined. Palestinian health officials warn that the COVID-19 epidemic in the Gaza Strip is getting worse.
“The COVID-19 is spreading and the situation is out of control,” said Dr. Jabba, a Shifa Hospital in Gaza.
In the last two days, more than 30% of COVID-19 tests have tested positive, indicating that the novel coronavirus may have spread widely. “The number of intensive care beds and the medications are very limited, and doctors have to choose between elderly patients, younger patients and other patients with other conditions,” said Hazindar, chief physician at a private hospital in the Gaza Strip.
There are reports that there are only 100 intensive care beds throughout the Gaza Strip.
The Gaza Strip is currently controlled by Palestinian Hamas forces. The majority of the population lives in overcrowded refugee camps. Large families are widespread.
The narrow coastal areas have been under the blockade of Israel and Egypt for more than a decade. Israel has always claimed that the blockade is necessary to prevent Hamas from importing weapons.
There are no airports or ports in the Gaza Strip, only two ports of entry and exit, Erez checkpoint to Israel and Rafah checkpoint to Egypt.
For a long time, the flow of people through the Erez checkpoint has been strictly controlled by Israel. In order to prevent the spread and spread of COVID-19, the two transit ports are now almost closed.
On the evening of the 23rd local time, the authorities in the Gaza Strip issued a statement: Hamas officials are discussing whether a complete blockade is needed, which may be one of the measures to prevent and control the novel coronavirus.
