MECC Coronavirus (COVID 19) Weekly Report
SYRIA: COVID-19
Humanitarian Update No. 05
Reporting period: from 20 to 26 April 2020
Coronavirus cases: 42 Deaths: 3 Recovered: 11 [1]
Highlights
On 21 April, the Minister of Health stated that all positive cases announced to date had been from Damascus and Rural Damascus governorates.
To date, data received from the MoH on 38 of the 42 announced cases shows that 55 per cent were men and 45 percent women.
As of 22 April, according to the MoH, around 1,500 tests have been conducted by the Central Public Health Laboratory (CPHL) in Damascus, including 24 from Al-Hasakeh, 22 from Deir-Ez-Zor and two from Ar-Raqqa governorates.
It remains a priority to enhance laboratory and case investigation capacity across Syria, including training of laboratory technicians and rapid response teams (RRTs).
Currently 1,271 sentinel sites report cases through EWARS system across all 14 governorates.
Updated measures
The Cabinet decided on 26 April th that all students of non-certificate grades will pass automatically to the next grade, tasking the Education Ministry to prepare a plan to help students make up for the lessons they missed next years.[2]
The Cabinet also extended the suspension of attendance at universities and institutes till after the Eid al-Fitr holiday. [3]
The Ministry of Health on Sunday 26 April, announced the end of the 25-day isolation of Menin city in the northern countryside of Damascus after verifying that there are no infected or suspected cases of the novel coronavirus in the town.
A daily curfew from 7.30pm to 6 am is in place for the holy month of Ramadan until otherwise announced; and after a two-day exemption on 20 and 21 April, a ban on travel between governorates and travel within governorates to and from urban and rural centers, with some exemptions remains in place.
While all non-essential services remain largely closed, from 19 April some businesses in specified fields were permitted to re-open on specified hours and days, including hairdressers, pastry stores, tailors, mobile phone shops, ironing and washing services, among others.
Humanitarian Impact
WFP have reported that the price of basic food items has increased over 100 percent, comparing with the past year.
According to WFP vulnerability Analysis and Mapping (VAM) of food security monitoring, increased levels of harmful coping mechanisms were reported. Around 50 percent of assessed households reported lack of employment as the main cause, followed by high food prices. As the impact of COVID-19 continues, a substantial number of households are likely to become more vulnerable to food insecurity.
For UNRWA, 103 schools and five Technical and Vocational Education and Training centers (TVET) are currently closed.
Around 10,000 students in Neirab, Khan Danoun, Khan Eshieh camps and Ramadan gathering have been provided hard copies due to lack of internet.
A number of humanitarian partners have reported operational delays and disruptions due to preventive measures, however many have resumed assistance with adjusted modalities to reduce risks to beneficiaries and humanitarian staff.
Preparedness and response
On 20 April, during the second meeting of the joint GoS inter-ministerial-UN task force on COVID-19 it was agreed that support to isolation centers and protecting the elderly from infection should be prioritized. The UN also offered logistical support to facilitate distribution of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) at the governorate level.
To date, an estimated 9 million people have been reached by the television and radio awareness campaigns, 2 million by printed IEC materials, and more than 5 million people through social media. Direct awareness raising through humanitarian teams at distributions and door-to-door continues, as does UNICEF’s supporting of the Ministry of Awqaf to engage 1,000 religious leaders working in 3,600 mosques.
To date, 258 rapid response teams (RRT) personnel in 13 governorates have received dedicated training on COVID-19 case investigation, sample collection and referral
In NES, five rapid response teams (RRTs) are active in Al-Hasakeh and three in Ar-Raqqa. Deir-Ez-Zor has no RRT and is instead utilizing the Early Warning. Alert and Response System (EWARS) focal point, while Menbij/Kobane is being covered from Aleppo.
To date, two air-conditioners and two refrigerators were procured; two air-conditioners and four refrigerators were additionally fixed; and the laboratory generator was repaired.
Training of more than 95 MoH and DoH staff in sample collection and surveillance has been completed, as has on the job training for tenCPHL laboratory technicians.
During the reporting period, WHO delivered 17 enzyme kits (1,700 reactions), 22 extraction kits (1,500 reactions), 20 screening kits (1,920 reactions)and four confirmatory testing kits (384 reactions), in addition to Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for laboratory staff.
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) machines have been delivered to Aleppo and Homs, and testing kits to Aleppo, Homs and Lattakia.
As of 21 April, the CPHL has tested approximately 1,500 cases for COVID-19, with a current average of 60-90 tests per day. Support is ongoing to scale up this capacity and increase geographical coverage.
In the reporting period, WHO delivered 84,770 gloves, 110,992 surgical masks, 4,510 medical masks, 37,795 gowns, and 9,790 alcohol hand rubs to partners. To date, WHO has delivered more than one million PPE items across Syria
During this reporting period, UNICEF, including in its capacity as the WASH cluster lead, continued to engage with the Health sector and other actors to strengthen Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) in healthcare facilities, schools and learning spaces, youth centers and communities.
UNRWA has also distributed Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to its frontline staff, with more than 74,000 gloves, 79,000 disposable masks, 132 goggles and 6,500 liters of disinfectant liquid delivered to date.
By the end of April, distributions of soap are expected to reach approximately two million bars. In coordination with the WASH and NFI sectors, NFI partners have further switched programming from distributing NFIs to hygiene kits.
Within Syria, the financial requirements for the revised COVID-19 operational response plan are currently estimated at $178.6 million[4].
Lebanon: COVID-19
Humanitarian Update
Reporting period: from 23 to 28 April 2020
Coronavirus cases: 710 Deaths: 24 Recovered: 145
Highlights
On the 25th of April, the number of randomized coronavirus detective tests reached 2000.
The Ministry of Health declared that among the 1360 who undertook randomized coronavirus detective tests within one 24 hours, only 3 tested positive for corona.[5]
For the first time since the beginning of the Covid19 crisis, on the 27th of April, the number of patients who tested positive and were admitted to the Rafic Hariri Hospital is below ten, with none in critical condition.[6]
Salma Aasi, Chairman of the Medical Supplies Importers, described the situation as ‘terrible’ due to the fact that a lot of the money transfers to purchase medical equipment, respirators, and personal protective equipment (PPE) are still pending due to the financial crisis.[7]
On the 28th of April, Lebanon started receiving via its airport, the first batch of its 4000 expats.[8]
Preventive measures
The minister of Public Health Hamad Hassan declared that the studies orchestrated by Lebanese universities claiming that the coronavirus has been defeated, are not factual or accurate. However, he did mention that great milestones have been achieved and lockdown measures will be lifted gradually.[9]
On the 27th of April, the government started lifting its lockdown measures on most manufacturers, agricultural enterprises, service and delivery providers, hotels, small shops, pastry shops, car rental businesses, electricity companies (EDL and Kadisha), and water authorities.
Although preventive measures are gradually being lifted, the Lebanese army and security services are continuing to conduct patrols and man checkpoints throughout Lebanon.[10]
As part of lifting its lockdown restrictions Lebanon cuts coronavirus curfew by one hour, to start every night from 9 p.m.[11]
Humanitarian Impact
The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) has reported that health referrals increased by 47%, which was the largest increase across all sectors, and places health as the sector to receive most referrals.[12]
OCHA has warned that Women are disproportionally affected by the impact of the COVID-19, particularly with increased reports of domestic violence and abuse.
Due to restrictions in movement within Lebanon, INGOs reported difficulty in tending to sporadic cases.[13]
Four new cases have been reported in in a Palestinian refugee camp, according to URNWA.[14]
Due to the coronavirus lockdown and the depreciation of the unofficial value of the Lebanese Pound, Syrian refugees’ communities are increasingly reporting being starved of basic needs, according to the humanitarian news network Relief web. [15]
PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE
The NRC (Norwegian Refugee Council) via a report published online, has altered its strategy to tend to the people whose pre-existing needs have been exacerbated as a result of COVID-19 and the ongoing economic crisis.
Via a joint statement from WHO and UNICEF, the two entities have joined forces with partners in Lebanon in line with the global Multi-Religious Faith-in-Action COVID-19 Initiative to raise awareness of the impacts of this pandemic on the citizens.
OCHA, in collaboration with UN agencies and partners involved in the Lebanon COVID-19 response efforts are in the process of preparing a response of appeal which will be presented to the Lebanese government at the end of April.
The Office of the United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon in collaboration with Ministry of Education has released a statement detailing its ongoing efforts in providing education to vulnerable communities. So fat, A Learning Readiness Rapid Assessment has been completed with the UN support and the participation of over 10,000 Syrian families with children enrolled in suspended non-formal and formal education program and has developed a series of regional webinars to strengthen teachers’ capacities in distance/online teaching and build their skills to use ICTs (Information Communication Technologies) in education.
The Danish Refugee Council via report which it has published, revealed a list of recommendations to and service providers.
Qatar Charity and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees signed a US $ 1.5 million agreement to provide emergency cash assistance to Syrian refugees across Lebanon in response to humanitarian needs caused by the spread of the Coronavirus outbreak.
Since more and more refugees are being infected with covid-19, Save the Children has begun converting a restaurant, a factory and seven other buildings so they can be used as isolation centers. Moreover, it is also making use of vacant tents in the Bekaa valley as isolation units, so that patients can self-isolate within the camps.
MECC’s Diakonia launched a humanitarian appeal to assist those whom are really vulnerable to covid-19 by providing emergency lifesaving supplies which include hygiene kits.
The Middle East Council of Churches, Adyan Foundation, Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs at the American University of Beirut and the UNHCR took a unified ethical stance and jointly decided to meet and discuss the repercussions of the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic on refugees and host communities.
[1] Worldometers, 20 Apr
[2] SANA,26 April
[3] SANA,26 April
[4] OCHA, WHO, COVID-19 Humanitarian Update No. 07
[5]Lebanon 24, April 27, 2020, https://www.lebanon24.com/news/lebanon/697784/
[6] Lebanon 24, April 27, 2020, https://www.lebanon24.com/news/lebanon/697859/
[7] Lebanon 24, April 27, 2020,https://www.lebanon24.com/news/lebanon/697784/
[8] Lebanon 24, April 27, 2020, https://www.lebanon24.com/news/lebanon/697784/
[9] Lebanon 24, April 26, 2020, https://www.lebanon24.com/news/lebanon/697458/
[10] AE, April 27, https://24.ae/article/565021/
[11] Daily Star, April 24, 2020, http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Lebanon-News/2020/Apr-24/504896-lebanon-cuts-coronavirus-curfew-by-one-hour-to-start-every-night-from-9-pm.ashx
[12] Relief Web, April 25, 2020, https://reliefweb.int/report/lebanon/rims-informing-humanitarian-programming-through-referral-analysis-march-2020
[13] Relief Web, April 25, 2020, https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/Lebanon_COVID-19_weekly%20situation%20report%20v1_20200418_FINAL.pdf
[14] Al Monitor, April 24, 2020, https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2020/04/four-new-coronavirus-cases-lebanese-refugee-camp-1.html
[15] Relifeweb.int