COVID-19 pandemic in the State of Palestine
The COVID-19 pandemic in the State of Palestine is part of the worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The State of Palestine first identified its cases in the Bethlehem area on 5 March 2020,[2] when a group of Greek tourists who visited a hotel in late February tested positive for the disease.[3] The Hebron district is considered an epicenter of the outbreak. The first two cases in Gaza City, Gaza were diagnosed on 21 March. On 24 August 2020, confirmed cases outside of quarantine centers were recorded.
The senior United Nations official in the region told the Security Council in a 23 April 2020 video conference meeting that Israelis and Palestinians are cooperating in unprecedented ways to deal with the pandemic but that Israel must do more to safeguard the health of all people under its control.[4]
According to an analysis by Haaretz on 22 July 2020, there is a concern that a combination of events may cause the situation to spin out of control. Following the severing of security coordination and civilian ties with Israel, the Palestinian Authority stopped coordinating on the treatment of patients with Israel and accepting mail and packages through Israeli ports and severed coordination with the IDF as well as the Shin Bet. Supervision of border crossings with Israel also stopped. On top of this, the dispute with Israel over tax revenues had a serious economic impact.[5][6]
On 31 August 2020, according to United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator Jamie McGoldrick, "The deterioration witnessed in recent weeks in the Gaza Strip is of grave concern." He said "Power cuts are severely affecting hospitals as well as critical infrastructure." and called on Israel "to immediately allow the resumption of fuel into the Gaza Strip, in line with its obligations as an occupying power."[7] The vaccination rollout began on 21 March 2021.
Background
On 12 January 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that a novel coronavirus was the cause of a respiratory illness in a cluster of people in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, which was reported to the WHO on 31 December 2019.[8][9] The case fatality ratio for COVID-19 has been much lower than SARS of 2003,[10][11] but the transmission has been significantly greater, with a significant total death toll.[10][12]
Outbreaks
Bethlehem
The city of Bethlehem became the first to experience an outbreak with confirmed cases in early March. The City of Bethlehem was locked down on 7 March as 16 cases of infection were found in the West Bank, including nine cases in Bethlehem.[57]
Palestinian refugee camps
The crowded Palestinian refugee camps face a grave threat if coronavirus spreads.[58] On 22 April, a Palestinian from Syria became the first case reported in a refugee camp, located in the Wavel refugee camp in Bekaa, Lebanon.[59][60] On 24 April, the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates (FAE) confirmed 4 more cases in Al-Jalil refugee camp, raising the total to five.[61]
Breakdown by district
The tables below show fortnightly confirmed total COVID-19 cases for Palestine and periodically by Governorates of Palestine. The source data can be referenced on a daily basis.[62] Breakdown for recoveries may lag behind the main total figures reported.
Statistics
Charts
The charts for confirmed new cases and confirmed deaths per day are based on the data collected by the Palestinian National Institute of Public Health for the Northern Governorates, Southern Governorates and East Jerusalem,[790] as per the actual dates.
