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 29 April to 5 May 2020
Coronavirus cases: 740 Deaths: 25 Recovered: 200
Highlights
The Ministry of Public Health expressed its concern regarding Lebanese citizens not abiding by preventive measures and warned that the virus may spread again.[5]
The MOH declared on the 2nd of May that it had conducted within the last 24hrs, 832 randomized tests on residents and 628 tests on incoming expats. Consequently, 4 tested positive.[6]
According to the WHO, Lebanon is implementing a moderate amount of measures when compared to other Middle East countries.
Minister of Public Health Hamad Hassan convened with Ghassan Al-Amin and members of the Pharmacists Syndicate Council at the headquarters of the Lebanese Pharmacists Syndicate, where they discussed measures to protect the pharmaceutical sector. [7]
Preventive measures
The Economic and Social Council held a consultative meeting with the Minister of Health Dr. Hamad Hassan, in the presence of representatives of the production and educational sectors, in order to discuss the measures to be taken in preparation for the gradual restoration of the economic cycle. [8]
In light of the gradual lifting of lockdown the Ministry of Interior, issued a press release reminding citizens to still abide by abide by preventative measures.
The Minister of Public Health Hamad Hassan presided over a meeting to organize the logistics of the second phase of the returning expats. As a result, medical teams were increased to ensure the safety of expatriates and to track their health conditions. [9]
The second stage of the gradual lift of the lockdown has been initiated on the 4th of May prompting restaurants and cafes to open at a 30 percent capacity. Moreover, children playgrounds, outdoor sports courts, hairdressers, automobile repair shops, and various manufacturers were allowed to open.
Humanitarian Impact
According to UNRWA, refugee camps in Lebanon took additional measures after confirming the several cases of corona in the Bekaa Valley.[10]
According to the UNHCR, the corona pandemic coupled with the economic crisis in Lebanon, forced 78% of families to have difficulty in buying food and 69% unable to pay rent.
According to a UNHCR report, the corona pandemic has forced the agency to require an additional 30 million USD for WASH purposes.
In the North and Bekaa areas, ATM’s were close by the order of local municipalities to quell crowds. This made it difficult for Syrian refuges to receive cash assistance.
An assessment carried out by Plan International shows the pandemic has severely impacted Syrian refugees and vulnerable Lebanese communities. 64% of caregivers surveyed said they did not have enough food to last the next two weeks. Among these, two-thirds were Syrian refugees.
Preparedness and response
Under the current conditions that prevent gatherings and warrant trainings, an electronic version of training on "preventive measures in primary health care centers during the period of the Coronavirus disease epidemic" was registered, under the supervision of the Ministry of Public Health, with support from the World Health Organization, and in cooperation with the Nurse Union Nurses.
Due to the rise of domestic violence during the lockdown period, the MOH issued a statement urging people not to link mental disorders with violence, as many of the perpetrators are not mentally ill. [11]
On the 2nd of May, the MOH dispatched field workers to the Metn area where masks were distributed and 195 PCR tests were done.
The MOH conducted 250 PCR tests in the Hermil area on the 3rd of May, where field workers visited public and private hospitals.
The UNHCR is currently appealing for additional funding to implement a time-limited multi-purpose cash assistance response to help vulnerable refugee families currently unassisted with food or multi-purpose cash assistance meet their basic survival needs and comply with movement restrictions and curfews.
According to the UNHCR, it is undergoing consultations with partners to sustainably increase the number of families benefiting from its regular multi-purpose cash assistance program combined with WFP’s food support, during the corona pandemic.
The UNHCR, via a report that it has published, declared that 30,700 residents in 438 collective shelters are currently receiving hygiene items including sanitizer and bleach, as well as hygiene information.
Rapid Response Task teams have been established in each region of Lebanon with respective sector leads, UNDP, MOSA and MOIM to ensure a quick response and proper referral pathways when needed.
The Government of the Kingdom of Belgium contributed 250 000 USD to The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to help restore vegetable production of at least 820 farming families (4100 people) in Akkar and Baalback-Hermel, amid deplorable economic conditions and the corona pandemic.
UN-Habitat is preparing to initiate two immediate COVID-19 response projects in some of the most vulnerable urban neighborhoods in Beirut. These projects will focus on the allocation of hygiene kits, such as bleach, alcohol, antiseptic spray, hand sanitizer, washing powder and household soap.
The UNHCR further increased the number of hotlines to provide counseling to refugees on protection and assistance concerns through refugee websites, social media, SMS, outreach volunteers & front-line staff.[12]
[1] Worldometers, 20 Apr
[2] SANA,26 April
[3] SANA,26 April
[4] OCHA, WHO, COVID-19 Humanitarian Update No. 07
[5] Lebanon 24, May 3, 2020, https://www.lebanon24.com/news/lebanon/699827/
[6] https://www.moph.gov.lb
[7] https://www.moph.gov.lb/userfiles/files/News/suppressing/graphs%20-%20Website%202-5-2020.pdf
[8] https://www.moph.gov.lb
[9]http://www.interior.gov.lb
[10] https://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/press-releases
[11] https://www.moph.gov.lb
[12] OCHA, Reliefweb.net