West Bank nears hospital capacity in latest COVID-19 surge

Doctors affiliated with the Palestinian ministry of health working in a mobile clinic perform check-ups on members of the al-Awawdeh family who tested positive for COVID-19, in Dura outside of Hebron, on March 3, 2021. (Photo: Mosab Shawer/APA Images)

The Latest:

  • 218,628 Palestinians tested positive for COVID-19; 195,394 recoveries; 2,333 deaths
  • Of those who tested positive, 137,101 live in the West Bank; 25,599 live in East Jerusalem; and 55,928 live in Gaza
  • 795,454 Israelis tested positive for COVID-19; 748,575 recoveries; 5,832 deaths; 3,576,379 have received both doses of the Pfizer vaccine

Over the last week the West Bank continues to experience a “significant surge” in a third COVID-19 wave, according to the World Health Organization with some areas doubling the number of active cases in the last seven days.

Nablus saw a 101% increase, while the epicenters of the latest outbreak, Ramallah and Hebron, had a 41% and 52% rise in new cases. The sharp turn prompted health officials to order a broad closure at the end of February that will last until March 14. Curfews are in place across the West Bank, shutting down movement from 7:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. 

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Most concerning, hospitals are nearing capacity, even with the induction of a new COVID-19 treating facility. The WHO found “COVID-19 designated hospitals in the West Bank near their full capacity. 90.5% of all COVID-19 designated beds and 93% of ICU beds are now occupied,” in their latest situation report.

Our correspondent Yumna Patel reported this week, “A nurse from Bethlehem described the situation to me as ‘terrifying,’ saying that COVID-19 patients in need of treatment are being turned away at the local governmental hospital because the hospital doesn’t have the capacity to take in and treat new patients.”

Patel’s dispatch also coincided with the one year anniversary of the first COVID-19 cases detected in Bethlehem:

“Around this time last year, there were less than 10 confirmed cases of the virus in the West Bank, yet the feeling of panic and impending disaster was unshakeable. Bethlehem became unrecognizable to its residents, who were accustomed to seeing the city’s streets bustling with tourists from around the world.

The city was completely shut down — the streets were empty, save for the dozens of police and security checkpoints in and around the city; the few coronavirus patients that we did have were all sequestered in the Angel Hotel, where the outbreak began; and hot spot tourist destinations like Manger Square and the Nativity Church were completely deserted.”

A deserted street during a complete closure amid a coronavirus third wave in the West Bank town of Zababdeh, south of Jenin on February 28, 2021. (Photo: Oday Daibes/APA Images)

A deserted street during a complete closure amid a coronavirus third wave in the West Bank town of Zababdeh, south of Jenin on February 28, 2021. (Photo: Oday Daibes/APA Images)

More vaccines coming this month

Palestinians have barley kicked off a national vaccine program, with only 6,100 receiving jabs, of whom most are healthcare workers. Around 1,847 were administered to healthcare worker in Gaza, and another 20,000 were donated by the UAE. And while we aren’t sure why, they haven’t made their way into people’s arms just yet. Part of the hold up might be a lack of vaccination stations. This week there are six in Gaza, last were there were three.

The hard numbers: Though, there is reason to believe there will be some sort of a ramp up in the coming weeks. By the end of the month 24,000 doses of AstraZeneca purchased by the Palestinian Authority should arrive, along with 37,440 doses of Pfizer donated by the global humanitarian mechanism, Gavi/COVAX Facility.

We’ll keep you posted on the vaccination campaign and follow the latest outbreak in the West Bank next week. Until then, stay safe.

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