MECC Coronavirus (COVID 19) Weekly Report
SYRIA: COVID-19
Humanitarian Update No. 37
Reporting period: from 30 November to 6 December 2020
Coronavirus cases: 8320 Active cases: 3999 Recovered: 3879 Deaths: 442[1]
HIGHLIGHTS
As of 5 December, the Syrian Ministry of Health (MoH) reported 8320 laboratory-confirmed cases, 3879 recoveries and 442 deaths.
In GoS-controlled areas of the country, 8320 laboratory-confirmed cases have been reported by the Syrian MoH as of 5 December. Of these, 7 were in Ar-Raqqa; 22 in Deir-Ez-Zor; 35 in Al-Hasakeh; 109 in Quneitra; 384 in Hama; 429 in Tartous; 450 in Dar’a; 482 in As-Sweida; 853 in Lattakia; 939 in Rural Damascus; 1291 Homs; 1488 in Aleppo; 1831 in Damascus.
As of 21 November, the MoH has reported approximately 64,000 tests have been performed in laboratories in Damascus, Aleppo, Homs, Lattakia and Rural Damascus governorates, with a current average of 550 tests per day.
Highlighting the particular risks faced by healthcare workers, according to the MoH, 239 health care workers have tested positive for COVID-19, including 28 in November.
Reported cases in schools have also sharply increased in recent weeks, with 828 cases reported to date, more than double than as of 1 November (399 cases). Of these, 420 were reported to be teachers and other staff, with the highest cases in Rural Damascus, Aleppo and Homs. These cases also highlight the challenges of preventing transmission in schools, particularly given the overall country context of overcrowded classrooms, insufficient qualified teaching personnel, and poor/damaged infrastructure.
In Northeast Syria (NES), As of 27 November, authorities have reported 6,899 cases (4,283 in Al-Hasakeh,1,086 in Aleppo, 1,401 in Ar-Raqqa, and129in Deir-Ez-Zor), including 196 fatalities and 1,014 recoveries. Healthcare workers have also been affected, with 637reported cases. Currently, the laboratory in Al-Hasakeh is only functional every other day due to limited testing kits; in past weeks, an increase in positivity rate has been recorded as a likely result. Emergency procurements are underway to meet gaps, including up to 40,000 testing kits, which are expected to arrive in the first half of December.
In NES, local authorities have recently re-imposed general preventive measures in response to increased reported COVID-19 cases.local authorities announced a complete lockdown in Qamishli, Al-Hasakeh, At-Tabqah and Ar-Raqqa cities from 26 November to 5 December(but not other towns or rural areas within the relevant districts). All other areas in NES are now in partial lockdown, with the exception of the Kobane and Ein Issa area, where full lockdown is imposed until 10 December, with exemptions between 26-30 November to allow people to purchase food and other essential items.
PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE
During the reporting period, WHO supported three workshops to coincide with World Antibiotics Awareness Week, to promote behavioral change and addressing critical issues related to antimicrobials, including in the context of COVID-19. WHO, with UNICEF, further supported a 20-day awareness campaign in Homs and Hama on preventive measures, utilizing ten teams to reach 280,000 people, including school children, in 200 locations across the two governorates.
UNFPA reached 7,382 people with integrated awareness raising targeting women, adolescent girls and pregnant and lactating women.
UNICEF supported training of 73 health workers on Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) in Homs, to carry out RCCE activities for two months, with similar activities also completed in Hama.
UNHCR also continued support to RCCE efforts including through 2,736 outreach volunteers, utilizing remote platforms and over 5,000 physical visits/meetings to the most vulnerable individuals following strict preventive measures.
During the reporting period, in AlHol camp, a ten-day awareness and outreach campaign utilizing ten volunteers was completed. Further, UNICEF supported 364 household visits and 20 awareness sessions in Al-Hasakeh and Ar-Raqqa. Outside of camp skey Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) priorities, include increasing awareness on utilizing face coverings; promoting early reporting of symptoms; and addressing social stigma, which may contribute to late reporting and under-hospitalization.
More than 9,000 suspected COVID19 cases and contacts were investigated within 24 hours of an alert received. In addition, WHO supported the transport of 2,072-suspected case specimens to the central laboratories.
Given the additional challenges of the current co-circulation of influenza and COVID-19, WHO supported activation of influenza surveillance in three sentinel sites in Damascus and Aleppo, with training for 25 surveillance officers completed, in addition to six laboratory staff for testing samples for influenza and COVID-19.
WHO supported two three-day workshops on points of entry (PoE) capacity in Aleppo and Deir-Ez-Zor for 58 participants. WFP, as the Logistics Cluster lead, continues to monitor ports of entry including on operational status, capacity, new developments and restrictions.
In the reporting period, WHO supported training in for laboratory technicians working in Al-Hasakeh to support increased laboratory capacity in NES.
WHO delivered a further 3,000 PPE to NGO partners, and currently has over five million additional PPE in pipeline. To date, WHO has delivered more than six million PPE items.
ICRC continued rehabilitation of WASH facilities in 42 schools in Dar’a. In addition, local NGOs in As-Sweida provided over 5,500 masks to students in 39 schools, in addition to provided RCCE materials. Additionally, UNICEF provided 12,000 soap bars to schools in Homs, Hama, Tartous and Lattakia. OXFAM completed the COVID-19 and WASH-related hygiene behavior awareness sessions in13 schools in Eastern Ghouta and distributed of child and adolescent kits for 4,357 students.
WHO supported training for 235 healthcare workers on case management in Homs, Aleppo, Dar’a, Al-Hasakeh and Quneitra, including on ventilator management.[2]
Lebanon: COVID-19
Humanitarian Update No. 34
Reporting period: from Dec 1 to Dec 7, 2020
Coronavirus cases: 137,112 Deaths: 1,099 Recovered: 90,229
Highlights
Caretaker Prime Minister Hassan Diab, during a special session of the United Nations General Assembly in response to coronavirus, criticized the “limited” international support directed to Lebanon in its fight against coronavirus.
According to numbers published by the Health Ministry detailing the results of PCR tests of passengers arriving at Rafic Hariri airport, over half of Lebanon’s imported COVID-19 cases have originated from Turkey.
During this reporting period, Lebanon registered an average of 1534 cases per day.
According to local newspaper “El Akhbar” the tourism industry may be “fully reopened” during the Christmas season depending on the evaluation meeting on the 9th of December.
Updated Measures
Gatherings Based on the recommendations of the Corona virus Preventive Measures and Procedures Follow-up Committee, and the recommendations of the Prime Minister and due to the necessities of the public interest and safety requirements, the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities issued Decision No. 1524 of 12/5/2020 regarding the extension of decision No. 1459 issued on 11/21/2020 related to the preventive measures and procedures to confront Corona, until five in the morning on Monday 12/14/2020.
Preparedness and response
The Ministry of Public Health received PCR devices as a donation from the World Health Organization to governmental hospitals and the Lebanese University.
The Minister of Public Health opened a Corona Department and a PCR Laboratory at Dar Al-Hekma Hospital in Baableck that contains an intensive care unit for Corona patients with 11 beds, a laboratory diagnostic (PCR) department, in addition to a 14-bed hospitalization department, a surgery room, an operating room, and a delivery room for Corona patients.
The Ministry of Public Health delivered a hundred thousand masks to the Lebanese Army and Public Security.
The Mrayjeh Quarantine Center, which was provided for by UNICEF and the UNHCR, was inaugurated by the Minister of Public Health Hamad Hassan.
[1] Microsoft power MOH, 5 Dec
[2] OCHA, SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC: COVID-19 Humanitarian Update No. 21, As of 30 Nov 2020