5 apr 2020

Six more coronavirus cases were confirmed in the Ramallah area town of Beitunia this evening, raising total in Palestine to 234, according to government spokesman Mohammad Milhem.
He said that the six cases are for a 35-year-old woman and her five children ranging in age between 3 and 18 years.
The five got the disease from the head of the household, a returning worker from Israel, confirmed yesterday as infected with the disease.
Following the announcement of the six, Ramallah governor Laila Ghannam, declared a total lockdown on the town, which is attached to Ramallah.
Earlier, the government reported 11 new cases, which made a total today of 17.
Two new cases of coronavirus in West Bank; total 228
Two new cases of coronavirus were confirmed in the West Bank this afternoon, raising total in Palestine to 228, according to government spokesman Ibrahim Milhem.He said that the two new cases are from Bethlehem area villages, including a woman in her 20s.
Earlier, the government reported nine new cases, which made a total today of 11 cases.
Of the 228 total in Palestine, 12 are in the Gaza Strip where six are reported to have recovered.
Official confirms nine more cases of Covid-19, total hits 226
The Ministry of Health confirmed today nine more cases of the novel Covid-19 (coronavirus) in the occupied West Bank, bringing up the total cases in Palestine to 226.
Kamal Shakhra, director-general for Primary Healthcare at the Ministry of Health, said during the morning briefing on the pandemic that the nine cases were reported in the governorates of Ramallah, Jenin, and Jerusalem.
He also said that the government is currently studying the decision of closing the governmental hospital of Thabet Thabet in the city of Tulkarm, after a Covid-19 patient reportedly visited the hospital before he was referred to a center specialized to receive coronavirus patients
Newspaper Review: Covid-19 cases in Palestine jump to 217
The three Palestinian Arabic dailies focused today on the government's confirmation of 23 more cases of coronavirus (Covid-19) yesterday which brought up the total cases in Palestine to 217.
The three dailies said that President Mahmoud Abbas praised the efforts of the Palestinian security forces in the prevention of Covid-19 outbreak across Palestine.
Al-Ayyam said 423 more cases of coronavirus and four deaths were reported yesterday in Israel.
Al-Hayat al-Jadida said the Palestine Bank Group has contributed 6.5 million shekels to support the government's efforts to contain the Covid-19 pandemic.
Al-Ayyam quoted Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh as saying during a meeting with the emergency committee that "our success in exiting the crisis will be the result of collective work".
Al-Quds said President Mahmoud Abbas received a telephone call from Ziad Nakhaleh, head of the Islamic Jihad movement, and discussed the precautionary measures taken by the Palestinian leadership to protect the people and prevent the outbreak of the coronavirus.
Al-Quds said out of 4887 coronavirus tests conducted to Palestinians living in Israel, 155 came out positive.
Al-Ayyam said the US President Donald Trump expected that the next two weeks will witness the highest number of deaths from coronavirus in the US.
Al-Quds said the US recorded the highest number of deaths from coronavirus worldwide during the past 24 hours.
He said that the six cases are for a 35-year-old woman and her five children ranging in age between 3 and 18 years.
The five got the disease from the head of the household, a returning worker from Israel, confirmed yesterday as infected with the disease.
Following the announcement of the six, Ramallah governor Laila Ghannam, declared a total lockdown on the town, which is attached to Ramallah.
Earlier, the government reported 11 new cases, which made a total today of 17.
Two new cases of coronavirus in West Bank; total 228
Two new cases of coronavirus were confirmed in the West Bank this afternoon, raising total in Palestine to 228, according to government spokesman Ibrahim Milhem.He said that the two new cases are from Bethlehem area villages, including a woman in her 20s.
Earlier, the government reported nine new cases, which made a total today of 11 cases.
Of the 228 total in Palestine, 12 are in the Gaza Strip where six are reported to have recovered.
Official confirms nine more cases of Covid-19, total hits 226
The Ministry of Health confirmed today nine more cases of the novel Covid-19 (coronavirus) in the occupied West Bank, bringing up the total cases in Palestine to 226.
Kamal Shakhra, director-general for Primary Healthcare at the Ministry of Health, said during the morning briefing on the pandemic that the nine cases were reported in the governorates of Ramallah, Jenin, and Jerusalem.
He also said that the government is currently studying the decision of closing the governmental hospital of Thabet Thabet in the city of Tulkarm, after a Covid-19 patient reportedly visited the hospital before he was referred to a center specialized to receive coronavirus patients
Newspaper Review: Covid-19 cases in Palestine jump to 217
The three Palestinian Arabic dailies focused today on the government's confirmation of 23 more cases of coronavirus (Covid-19) yesterday which brought up the total cases in Palestine to 217.
The three dailies said that President Mahmoud Abbas praised the efforts of the Palestinian security forces in the prevention of Covid-19 outbreak across Palestine.
Al-Ayyam said 423 more cases of coronavirus and four deaths were reported yesterday in Israel.
Al-Hayat al-Jadida said the Palestine Bank Group has contributed 6.5 million shekels to support the government's efforts to contain the Covid-19 pandemic.
Al-Ayyam quoted Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh as saying during a meeting with the emergency committee that "our success in exiting the crisis will be the result of collective work".
Al-Quds said President Mahmoud Abbas received a telephone call from Ziad Nakhaleh, head of the Islamic Jihad movement, and discussed the precautionary measures taken by the Palestinian leadership to protect the people and prevent the outbreak of the coronavirus.
Al-Quds said out of 4887 coronavirus tests conducted to Palestinians living in Israel, 155 came out positive.
Al-Ayyam said the US President Donald Trump expected that the next two weeks will witness the highest number of deaths from coronavirus in the US.
Al-Quds said the US recorded the highest number of deaths from coronavirus worldwide during the past 24 hours.
4 apr 2020

Al-Mezan Center for Human Rights has warned against a real catastrophe that may hit the besieged Gaza Strip if the number of people infected with coronavirus rises and the situation gets out of control.
“The lives of tens of thousands of the Gaza Strip residents are under an unprecedented threat in light of the weak health capabilities and the continued siege,” al-Mezan Center said in an urgent appeal to the international community.
The Center called for urgent action to help Gaza and supply it with ventilators, necessary medicine and laboratory test material to save lives and fight the coronavirus.
The number of quarantined people diagnosed with coronavirus infections in Gaza has reached 12 patients and three of them reportedly recovered.
“The lives of tens of thousands of the Gaza Strip residents are under an unprecedented threat in light of the weak health capabilities and the continued siege,” al-Mezan Center said in an urgent appeal to the international community.
The Center called for urgent action to help Gaza and supply it with ventilators, necessary medicine and laboratory test material to save lives and fight the coronavirus.
The number of quarantined people diagnosed with coronavirus infections in Gaza has reached 12 patients and three of them reportedly recovered.

The Ministry of Health confirmed today six more cases of the novel Covid-19 (coronavirus) in in the West Bank, bringing up the total cases to 216.
Kamal Shakhra, director-general for Primary Healthcare at the Ministry of Health, said during the evening briefing on the pandemic that the six cases were reported in the governorates of Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and Ramallah.
He attributed the rapid increase in the coronavirus cases in Palestine to the gradual return of Palestinian workers in Israel and Israeli colonial settlements to their homes in the West Bank.
Workers have previously been encouraged to report themselves to the Ministry of Health to undergo the necessary Covid-19 tests and stay in quarantine.
Government confirms 5 more cases of Covid-19, total hits 210
Government's spokesman Ibrahim Milhem confirmed on Saturday evening five more cases of the novel Covid-19 (coronavirus) in Palestine, which brings up the total cases to 210.
Milhem said in a press statement that the new five cases were for two young men and a woman from the town of Halhul, north of Hebron city in the south of the West Bank, and contracted the disease from a man who was confirmed as a coronavirus patient last week.
The fourth case was reported in nearby Yatta town, while the fifth was reported in the village of Qarawat Bani Zaid near the city of Ramallah.
He added that the five patients were moved to the specialized quarantines of the Ministry of Health each in their governorate.
Of the 210 total in Palestine, 12 are in the Gaza Strip, among whom three have recovered, and the rest are in the West Bank, including 18 recovered and one death.
Health Ministry announces 11 new cases of coronavirus in Palestine; total 205
The Palestinian Ministry of Health said today that 11 new cases of coronavirus were confirmed in the West Bank, raising total in Palestine to 205.
Ministry spokesman Kamal Shakhra said in Ramallah in the daily briefing on the disease that most of them, except three, were Palestinian workers in a poultry factory in the city of Lydda, inside Israel, which appears to be owned by the same owner of the poultry factory in Atarot industrial settlement in occupied East Jerusalem.
Among the new 11 cases, said the ministry, were two children aged 11 and 15 years infected by their father.
Three cases were in Beitunia in the Ramallah area, three in the village of Qatanna and one in Beit Anan, west of occupied Jerusalem, two in Tulkarm refugee camp in the north of the West Bank, and two in the town of Surif, in the south of the West Bank.
Shakhra, director-general for Primary Healthcare at the Ministry of Health, said 2000 tests on workers returning from Israel were negative and that 1200 others are still at the labs in Ramallah and Bethlehem.
Of the 205 total in Palestine, 12 are in the Gaza Strip, among whom three have recovered, and the rest are in the West Bank, including 18 recovered and one death.
Kamal Shakhra, director-general for Primary Healthcare at the Ministry of Health, said during the evening briefing on the pandemic that the six cases were reported in the governorates of Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and Ramallah.
He attributed the rapid increase in the coronavirus cases in Palestine to the gradual return of Palestinian workers in Israel and Israeli colonial settlements to their homes in the West Bank.
Workers have previously been encouraged to report themselves to the Ministry of Health to undergo the necessary Covid-19 tests and stay in quarantine.
Government confirms 5 more cases of Covid-19, total hits 210
Government's spokesman Ibrahim Milhem confirmed on Saturday evening five more cases of the novel Covid-19 (coronavirus) in Palestine, which brings up the total cases to 210.
Milhem said in a press statement that the new five cases were for two young men and a woman from the town of Halhul, north of Hebron city in the south of the West Bank, and contracted the disease from a man who was confirmed as a coronavirus patient last week.
The fourth case was reported in nearby Yatta town, while the fifth was reported in the village of Qarawat Bani Zaid near the city of Ramallah.
He added that the five patients were moved to the specialized quarantines of the Ministry of Health each in their governorate.
Of the 210 total in Palestine, 12 are in the Gaza Strip, among whom three have recovered, and the rest are in the West Bank, including 18 recovered and one death.
Health Ministry announces 11 new cases of coronavirus in Palestine; total 205
The Palestinian Ministry of Health said today that 11 new cases of coronavirus were confirmed in the West Bank, raising total in Palestine to 205.
Ministry spokesman Kamal Shakhra said in Ramallah in the daily briefing on the disease that most of them, except three, were Palestinian workers in a poultry factory in the city of Lydda, inside Israel, which appears to be owned by the same owner of the poultry factory in Atarot industrial settlement in occupied East Jerusalem.
Among the new 11 cases, said the ministry, were two children aged 11 and 15 years infected by their father.
Three cases were in Beitunia in the Ramallah area, three in the village of Qatanna and one in Beit Anan, west of occupied Jerusalem, two in Tulkarm refugee camp in the north of the West Bank, and two in the town of Surif, in the south of the West Bank.
Shakhra, director-general for Primary Healthcare at the Ministry of Health, said 2000 tests on workers returning from Israel were negative and that 1200 others are still at the labs in Ramallah and Bethlehem.
Of the 205 total in Palestine, 12 are in the Gaza Strip, among whom three have recovered, and the rest are in the West Bank, including 18 recovered and one death.

A Palestinian man from the Gaza Strip who had returned from Umra in Saudi Arabia has tested positive for coronavirus and is being treated at a Cairo center, today said the Palestinian embassy in the Egyptian capital.
It said the Palestinian, who recently arrived in Cairo, did not show any symptoms of the disease in the beginning but that he started getting sick and went to hospital where he tested positive for coronavirus and therefore was taken to a special quarantine center in the city.
The embassy said the Palestinian man left Saudi Arabia with other Umra pilgrims and then went to the United Arab Emirates before travelling to Cairo on his way home in the Gaza Strip.
It said it did not record any other coronavirus cases in Egypt among the Palestinian community.
It said the Palestinian, who recently arrived in Cairo, did not show any symptoms of the disease in the beginning but that he started getting sick and went to hospital where he tested positive for coronavirus and therefore was taken to a special quarantine center in the city.
The embassy said the Palestinian man left Saudi Arabia with other Umra pilgrims and then went to the United Arab Emirates before travelling to Cairo on his way home in the Gaza Strip.
It said it did not record any other coronavirus cases in Egypt among the Palestinian community.

The Palestinian government confirmed around midnight another coronavirus case in the southern West Bank town of Halhoul, raising the total in Palestine to 194.
Government spokesman Ibrahim Milhem said in a statement that with the new case, a total of 33 cases were confirmed in one day yesterday in the West Bank, which he had earlier warned could increase if suspected cases, mainly of workers returning from Israel, do not confine themselves to their homes for 14 days.
Eight children under 18 years of age, 10 women and 15 men were among the new cases, who are either returning workers or got the disease after interacting with the returning workers.
Of the total cases in Palestine, 12 are in the Gaza Strip, of whom three have recovered, while the rest are in the West Bank, including 18 recoveries and one death.
Government spokesman Ibrahim Milhem said in a statement that with the new case, a total of 33 cases were confirmed in one day yesterday in the West Bank, which he had earlier warned could increase if suspected cases, mainly of workers returning from Israel, do not confine themselves to their homes for 14 days.
Eight children under 18 years of age, 10 women and 15 men were among the new cases, who are either returning workers or got the disease after interacting with the returning workers.
Of the total cases in Palestine, 12 are in the Gaza Strip, of whom three have recovered, while the rest are in the West Bank, including 18 recoveries and one death.
3 apr 2020

Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh confirmed today 22 more cases of novel COVID-19 (coronavirus) which brings up the total number in Palestine to 193.
Speaking at a press conference in Ramallah, Shtayyeh said that under President Mahmoud Abbas's decree on extending the state of emergency in Palestine by 30 more days, all educational facilities, businesses and border crossings will remain shut down for the time being.
In addition, movement of individuals between governorates as well as between populated communities will remain banned.
The Prime Minister stressed that the next two weeks will be the most difficult in terms of controlling the spread of the pandemic in Palestine, as around 45,000 Palestinian workers in Israel are expected to return from their workplace in Israel and the colonial Israeli settlements to their homes in the West Bank.
He called on the workers to adhere to the instructions of the home quarantine in accordance with the instructions of the Ministry of Health, in order to protect themselves and their community.
Shtayyeh added, "We are trying hard to arrange the return of the workers with the Israeli side so that we can take the necessary health measures.
We hope that Israel will agree to this, as this virus is the enemy of all mankind and knows no borders, gender or religion," he said. "We also asked Israel to check the workers prior to their arrival [to the West Bank]."
He said the Palestinian government has maintained contact with all parties of the international community, especially the World Health Organization, donors and international organizations as part of the efforts to contain the spread of the pandemic.
The Prime Minister said a special fund has been established to organize fundraising for medical and social necessities arising from the ongoing crisis.
COVID-19 cases in Palestine rise to 171
Palestine Friday morning confirmed 10 new coronavirus cases, raising the total number of confirmed cases in the occupied territories to 171.
Speaking in a daily briefing in Ramallah, Government spokesman Ibrahim Milhem announced that ten new cases tested positive for the novel coronavirus, and their health condition is stable and have not developed any complications.
He identified the new cases as residents of Biddu and Qatanna towns, northwest of Jerusalem, Hizma town, east of Jerusalem, and the northern West Bank city of Tulkarem.
He reiterated that test results for the samples of 250 Palestinian workers who worked at the poultry plant in the Israeli industrial zone of Atarot would be released within the coming few hours.
Upon their return Thursday night, the workers were received by the competent Palestinian authorities at the Qalandia military checkpoint, north of Jerusalem, and subsequently sent to the quarantine centers in Ramallah for testing.
Milhem concluded that random samples were taken for 1,500 suspected coronavirus cases from the various Palestinian districts. The results were not released yet.
Speaking at a press conference in Ramallah, Shtayyeh said that under President Mahmoud Abbas's decree on extending the state of emergency in Palestine by 30 more days, all educational facilities, businesses and border crossings will remain shut down for the time being.
In addition, movement of individuals between governorates as well as between populated communities will remain banned.
The Prime Minister stressed that the next two weeks will be the most difficult in terms of controlling the spread of the pandemic in Palestine, as around 45,000 Palestinian workers in Israel are expected to return from their workplace in Israel and the colonial Israeli settlements to their homes in the West Bank.
He called on the workers to adhere to the instructions of the home quarantine in accordance with the instructions of the Ministry of Health, in order to protect themselves and their community.
Shtayyeh added, "We are trying hard to arrange the return of the workers with the Israeli side so that we can take the necessary health measures.
We hope that Israel will agree to this, as this virus is the enemy of all mankind and knows no borders, gender or religion," he said. "We also asked Israel to check the workers prior to their arrival [to the West Bank]."
He said the Palestinian government has maintained contact with all parties of the international community, especially the World Health Organization, donors and international organizations as part of the efforts to contain the spread of the pandemic.
The Prime Minister said a special fund has been established to organize fundraising for medical and social necessities arising from the ongoing crisis.
COVID-19 cases in Palestine rise to 171
Palestine Friday morning confirmed 10 new coronavirus cases, raising the total number of confirmed cases in the occupied territories to 171.
Speaking in a daily briefing in Ramallah, Government spokesman Ibrahim Milhem announced that ten new cases tested positive for the novel coronavirus, and their health condition is stable and have not developed any complications.
He identified the new cases as residents of Biddu and Qatanna towns, northwest of Jerusalem, Hizma town, east of Jerusalem, and the northern West Bank city of Tulkarem.
He reiterated that test results for the samples of 250 Palestinian workers who worked at the poultry plant in the Israeli industrial zone of Atarot would be released within the coming few hours.
Upon their return Thursday night, the workers were received by the competent Palestinian authorities at the Qalandia military checkpoint, north of Jerusalem, and subsequently sent to the quarantine centers in Ramallah for testing.
Milhem concluded that random samples were taken for 1,500 suspected coronavirus cases from the various Palestinian districts. The results were not released yet.