MECC Coronavirus (COVID 19) Weekly Report

SYRIA: COVID-19

Humanitarian Update No. 32

Reporting period: from 2 to 8 November 2020

          Coronavirus cases: 6215          Active cases: 3541          Recovered: 2357            Deaths: 317 [1]

Highlights

• MoH announced on Sunday 8 Nov, that 68 new Coronavirus cases were registered in Syria, and 55 patients have recovered while 4 others have passed away. [2]

• In GoS-controlled areas of the country,(as of 8 November), the Syrian Ministry of Health (MoH) reported 6215 Laboratory-confirmed cases, 317 fatalities, and 2357 Recoveries.

• 6215 laboratory-confirmed cases have been reported by the Syrian MoH : 1646 in Damascus; 1274 in Aleppo; 900 in Homs; 710 in Rural Damascus; 530 in Lattakia; 303 in Tartous; 250 in Hama; 226 in Dar’a ;222in As-Sweida; 90 in Quneitra ;35 in Al-Hasakeh; 22 in Deir-Ez-Zor and 7 in Ar-Raqqa .

• Because of the lack of compliance with precautionary measures widely in most facilities, the government team concerned with measures to address the Coronavirus in Syria confirmed during its meeting on 7 November, the strict application of precautionary and preventive measures. The team imposed on workers wearing masks, continuing sterilization operations, achieving spatial distancing in workplaces, mass transit, restaurants and parks, maintaining occupancy rates approved in them, and tightening penalties against violating establishments.

The team pointed out the importance of taking more precautionary measures in schools, commercial markets and workplaces, and that the concerned authorities should play their full role in monitoring the implementation of appropriate health and preventive requirements.[3]

• The Ministry of Health is working to establish a specialized laboratory to detect the Coronavirus in Tartous after establishing  similar laboratories in Damascus, Aleppo, Homs, Lattakia, and Jdeidet Yabous Border Center, and it is also seeking to establish an emergency hospital in Aleppo and then move to the rest of the governorates in anticipation of an increase in the number of infections after the creation of a similar hospital in the Al-Fayhaa' Sports City in Damascus. [4]

Lebanon: COVID-19

Humanitarian Update No. 30

Reporting period: from 3 to 9 November 2020  

Coronavirus cases: 94,236          Deaths: 723          Recovered: 46,602

Highlights

• During this reporting period, Lebanon registered a new record of 2,132 cases per day on the 6th of November.

• Lebanon during this period, registered an average of 1756 cases per day.

• President Michel Aoun called for an extraordinary meeting to be held on the 10th of November, to discuss the COVID-19 situation and whether or not to impose a notion-wide lockdown.

Risks

• Gatherings and demonstrations.

• Failure to comply with the preventive measures and procedures required in several stores and markets (putting on a muzzle or face mask, sterilizing hands, maintaining a safe distance).

• Non-compliance with the 50% occupancy rate in several restaurants and amusement game centers.

• Gatherings for social events.

• Failure of those in contact with confirmed cases to adhere to home isolation procedures until the results of the laboratory tests are issued.

Updated Measures

• The General Directorate of State Security announced the closing of the market in the towns of Dahr Al-Ahmar and Khirbet Rouha - Rachaya District, from 11/3/2020 until 11/15/2020, in order to preserve the health and safety of citizens.

• The Ministry of Education and Higher Education announced that lessons would be halted in attendance in official and private educational institutions on Monday and Tuesday, November 9 and 10, 2020, pending the decisions issued by the Supreme Defense Council meeting

• A statement was issued by the Ministry of Public Health in which it clarified the procedures that the Ministry is undertaking in coordination with the security services to ensure the implementation of general mobilization procedures.

• The MOPH also clarified its relationship with hospitals in terms of plasma donation by individuals as the relationship remains confined to the patient, the donor and the hospital without any role for the ministry. In addition to clarifying the mechanism for distributing Remdesivir to treat Corona patients, which was presented to the Ministry as a gift and was distributed to needy patients

Preparedness and response

• The Ministry of Public Health opened a special section for coronavirus patients at Al-Rayyan Hospital in Baalbek

• The Ministry of Public Health reviewed the Deir Al-Ahmar Medical Center and its equipment and gave directions to open a department for treating corona patients

[1]  Microsoft power MOH,8 Nov

[2]  SANA, 8 Nov

[3] Presidency of the council of ministers  

[4] Ministry Of Health, 5 Nov