GAZA, Aug 15 (NNN-WAFA) – Palestinian health officials, yesterday, expressed their deep concern, over the sudden increase of COVID-19 cases in the besieged Gaza Strip, following months of relative stability.
Rami al-Abadla, director of infection control in Gaza’s health ministry, said, the ministry noticed a worrying rise in the rate of COVID-19 and an increase of severe cases.
“This is a warning that we will enter a new wave of coronavirus, and the number of cases increased again, due to the lack of residents’ commitment to the precautionary measures,” al-Abadla said.
He said, the percentage of people who wear face masks and maintain social distancing in public and indoor areas “does not exceed three percent of the total population of the Gaza Strip, which is more than two million people.”
No more than 10 percent of people in the Gaza Strip have received vaccines, al-Abadla said, adding that, “it is another factor for the sudden spread of the virus.”
He called on residents of the besieged coastal enclave, to immediately get vaccinated, saying that, “otherwise, there will be new restrictions, and a lockdown will be imposed in case there will be a high number of infections.”
Al-Abadla denied the emergence of the Delta variant in the Gaza Strip.
Yesterday, the Palestinian health ministry reported 451 new COVID-19 cases, one death and 166 recoveries in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, in the last 24 hours.
So far, a total of 635,207 people have been vaccinated against COVID-19 in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, including 427,979, who have received the second dose, the ministry said in a statement.– NNN-WAFA
