New wave of coronavirus hits Gaza

Gaza City, March 25 (RHC)-- A new wave of coronavirus has begun in the Gaza Strip with over 500 new infections reported on Wednesday.  

During February, infections were below 100 cases daily.  Coronavirus infections have reached over 60,000 cases in the blockaded Gaza Strip mostly since late August 2020.  Nearly 600 deaths have also been reported amid shortages in medicines and hospital supplies including vaccines.

The unsteady supply of medical equipment and testing kits for COVID-19 has compounded the struggle of health workers in Gaza, undermining their efforts to contain and track the spread of the coronavirus.

COVID-19 has complicated the already dire humanitarian situation in the impoverished coastal sliver, threatening the socioeconomic welfare of people in Gaza as much as their health.

The Israeli blockade and multiple wars since 2007 have had a devastating impact on Gaza’s health sector. Local authorities in the tiny enclave have been desperately fighting to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

People in Gaza are bracing themselves for the worst as COVID-19 infections continue to increase. The small enclave has been under a crippling blockade since 2007.  Experts say the Israeli siege must be fully lifted to help avert a humanitarian disaster.