GAZA – Palestinian authorities said on Wednesday that a 61-year-old man died in the Gaza strip because of coronavirus. Authorities are clamping down on another outbreak in the enclave.
The Health Ministry said the ministry was suffering from other ailments and was on ventilator support. It is the first mortality connected to coronavirus ever since a woman died at a quarantine centre in March.
Officials said that six more cases of infection were discovered on Wednesday. Six of them were in the isolated Maghazi refugee camp where four cases were confirmed on Monday. This prompted Hamas authorities to impose a complete lockdown.
The other three cases were in the north of the enclave, showing that the virus has begun spreading in the region which is home to two million.
Local and international health organisations are concerned about the poverty, overcrowded camps and limited hospital amenities creating a deadly cocktail for the virus to thrive and spread.
People have been told to remain indoors and to wear face coverings if they have to go out in cases of extreme necessity.
The UNRWA, which provides help to half of the enclave’s population, said it was exploring alternative arrangements to continue health care, education and food services to people if the lockdown is extended.
Adnan Abu Hasna, UNRWA spokesman in Gaza, said clinics remained open but patients were not allowed. Instead, doctors provided consultation over the phone and medicines were delivered to patients at home.
Photos syndicated via Reuters)
This story has been edited by BH staff and is published from a syndicated field.