MECC Coronavirus (COVID 19) Weekly Report
SYRIA: COVID-19
Humanitarian Update No. 12
Reporting period: from 6 to 15 June 2020
Coronavirus cases: 177 Deaths: 6 Recovered: 78[1]
Highlights
As of 15 June, Number of people confirmed by the Ministry of Health (MoH) to have COVID-19: 177 (6 fatalities, 78 recovered).
As of 13 June, approximately 5,833 COVID-19 tests have been performed in laboratories in Damascus, Aleppo, Homs and Lattakia governorates.
In Syria, 177 laboratory-confirmed cases have been reported by the MoH to date :1 case in Dar’a; 1 in Lattakia; 2 in As-Sweida; 5 in Homs; 98 in Damascus; 62 in Rural Damascus; and 8 additional cases where the location has not yet been announced.
The MoH has also announced 78 recoveries. Of the cases, 85 cases were announced as imported, including Syrian nationals recently repatriated, in addition to a truck driver working across borders.
A reported 2,000 Syrian nationals residing in Lebanon have reportedly returned through land crossings, mainly Maasna border point.
In NES, at the time of writing, Fishkabour/Semalka was opened for returns of Syrian nationals from 30 May to 1 June, 7to 11 June and 13to 18 June; significant numbers including an estimated1,800 refugee returns have been reported in the past week, with expectations of another estimated 1,000 intending to return in the coming week.
Humanitarian Impact
The informal SYP/USD exchange rate has experienced extreme volatility, rising steeply to the highest rate on record –approximately SYP 3,200 to US$ 1 –and subsequently rapidly dropping to approximately SYP 2,200 within two days. At the time of writing, the informal exchange rate stood at approximately SYP 2,450.Due to the exchange rate and other factors, including knock-on effects of the preventive measures of COVID-19 on the economy, price rises in most basic commodities has been observed.
Some humanitarian partners, however, have reported that the volatility of the informal exchange rate had forced temporary suspension of local procurement. Some partners also reported that redesign of budgets in light of inflation and the exchange rate volatility was being considered, and that programme delivery would likely be delayed.
Other humanitarian programs that were specifically impacted by precautionary COVID-19 measures have been able to resume in recent weeks. As an example, 58 UNRWA schools opened in the reporting period for 4,385 9th grade students, and continues to resume health services. The opening of Community Based Organizations has been delayed in order to instate appropriate COVID-19 preventive measures.[2]
Preparedness and response
During the reporting period, WHO supported MoH with a tobacco control program in the context of COVID-19 awareness campaign, including distribution of IEC and a 4 June workshop for 25 health educators.
In the reporting period, child protection partners reported carrying out awareness campaigns and distributing Information Education Communication (IEC) materials in Al Hol Camp, Ar-Raqqa and Deir-Ez-Zor, to more than 3,000 parents and children, including on physical distancing. UNICEF also launched edutainment activities including mobile theatre with youth volunteers in Al-Hasakeh, Quneitra and Rural Damascus, and is supported safety vans in various governorates to delivery awareness messages to an estimated 157,000 children and their families.
Currently 1,271 sentinel sites report cases through EWARS system across all 14 governorates. With the support of WHO, MoH is conducting active surveillance utilizing 1,932 surveillance officers across 14governorates, who are in regular contact with and actively visit private and public health facilities to monitor admissions.
The MoH continues active case finding applying random sampling methods. During the reporting period, approximately 471 cases were investigated.
UNRWA have also continued a triage system in their 25 health centers; to date, 14,188 patients at UNRWA facilities with respiratory complaints have been examined following triage care and related protocols; no COVID-19 case has been detected.
WHO conducted further rehabilitation of the CPHL to establish a designated laboratory for COVID-19 is ongoing and is expected to complete shortly. On-site training for 24 CPHL laboratory technicians has also been completed.
Following WHO support for on-site training of laboratory technicians from Aleppo, Homs, Lattakia and Damascusand delivery of essential supplies, On COVID-19 testing is now ongoing at the Tishreen University Hospital in Lattakia (with 335 samples tested as of 26 May), the Zahi Azraq Hospital in Aleppo(63 samples), and at the public health laboratory in Homs(185 samples). As detailed above, the GoS committed to establish laboratories in all 14 governorates.
During the reporting period, distribution of a second shipment of medical supplies delivered by WHO (including wheel chairs, hygiene kits, patient beds and general supplies) to Qamishli by roadwas completed, including to the national hospitals in Qamishli, Al-Hasakeh, Menbij, Ar-Raqqa and Tabqa, the Al-Hikmen private hospital in Al-Hasakeh, and to partners in Qamishli, Ar-Raqqaand Al-Hasakeh.
In 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 IPC in healthcare facilities, schools and learning spaces, youth centers and communities, in addition to its regular WASH services. UNICEF continues to support light rehabilitation of WASH systems in hospitals across the country, with works completed in eight facilities (including Al-Hol), and ongoing in seven others.
Further in the reporting period, Adventist Development Relief Agency distributed 1,817sanitization kitsin northern rural Homs. International Medical Corps, in partnership with SARC, supported disinfection activities in a number of high-traffic public spaces (bakeries, clinics) in Deir-Ez-Zor. Action Against Hunger further provided around 300,000 Personal protective equipment (PPE) and 700 disinfection items to cover the needs of 200 health care workers in Al-Hasakeh for three months, in addition to 500 baby kits to ensure safe breast feeding in the context of COVID-19 in Aleppo.
To date, humanitarian partners have been informed by local authorities (Governors and Departments of Health) of 32 identified quarantine facilities and 50 isolation spaces across 13 governorates. At the central level, the MoH has announced 14 fully equipped isolation centers are currently running, with a cumulative capacity of 531 beds, including 423 isolation beds, 108 intensive care units (ICUs) beds, and 87 ventilators. The 32 quarantine centers have 1,235 beds.
In NES, during the reporting period, Action Against Hunger (AAH) provided medical equipment to support the isolation center in Al-Hasakeh (New Medical Center). There are 21 prepared isolation centers for moderate-severe cases in NES, with five currently operational (approximately 309 out of 975 available beds). A further two facilities are planned by NGO partners, with funding yet to be secured, and a further two-three by local authorities, with work still not started or in very initial stages.
During the reporting period, UNICEF continued support of construction of WASH facilities at the designated isolation centers in Areesha and Mahmoudli camps, and in addition to their regular support to camps and collective shelters.[3]
Lebanon: COVID-19
Humanitarian Update No. 09
Reporting period: from 10 to 16 June 2020
Coronavirus cases: 1464 Deaths: 32 Recovered: 875
Highlights
On the 14th of June, Lebanon recorded only 4 new cases, marking a drastic decrease in new cases when compared to the previous days.[4]
In another positive update, recorded cases seem to be originating from a specific number of areas and at dwindling numbers.
The Ministry of Health is currently developing a mechanism between physicians and pharmacists to handle issues related to vaccines and their distribution and delivery, and how to prescribe antibiotics and prescription.
The economic situation in Lebanon forced people on the 12th and 13th to demonstrate and form gatherings on the streets, raising fears of the transmission of the virus.
Updated measures
The government on the 14th of June decided to end the measure that required citizens to use commercial cars based on odd and even plate numbers.
The Ministry of Interior under Circular No. 57 gave businesses the freedom to set its own work schedule. Yet under the same circular, pubs, nightclubs, amusement centers, kids’ parks, video game shops etc… remain closed.
The government took a decision to open the airport on the 1st of July, with a 10% operational capacity. [5]
Concerning inbound arrivals from countries which undergo PCR tests, people must undergo a PCR test 96 hours before arriving to Beirut. Moreover, they must take a PCR test at the airport in Beirut. As for those coming from countries that do not undergo PCR tests, passengers of arrivals are required to take the tests at the airport and once again, 72 hours afterwards.
Risks
Some restaurants and cafes remain overcrowded and fail to comply with the permitted number of customers (50%).
People increasingly violated the car mobility, curfew, and the medical mask decisions.
Citizens started to go to the beach despite warnings.
Game stores and gyms showed lack of commitment as some were open to customers.
Preparedness and response
As part of the EU's global response to the coronavirus outbreak, the EU Regional Trust Fund adopted 34.6 million Euros support package to Lebanon to mitigate the pandemic.
The Minister of Public Health, Dr. Hamad Hassan and Prof. Dr. Sharaf Abu Sharaf, President of the Doctors Syndicate convened with the directors of Keserwan Hospitals to evaluate the measures undertaken against corona.
The ministry of Public Health is coordinating with local authorities in preparation for the decrease in lockdown and general mobilization measures, and in preparation for the next phase of arriving expats from 6/11/2020 to 6/19/2020.
The Ministry of Public Health started increasing the number of PCR tests and the distribution of medical supplies to government hospitals as part of its plan that focuses on random sampling in various Lebanese regions.
The Lebanese Red Cross via its report, declared that it added 10 ambulance centers.
During June 10 and June 16, the army continued to conduct patrols in different Lebanese regions to ensure the closure of all cafes, shops and factories. Moreover, it distributed food units (CIMIC) in different areas and supported general security forces in isolating Barja (chouf) and Khandaa al Ghamee (beirut) and chwayfet (aley).
The General Security Forces continued to make sure that quarantined citizens are being properly isolated.
The Internal security forces, in a report it has published, issued on the 14th of June, 62 fines to people not wearing any protective masks. This brought the number of fines issued to 2046.
The General Directorate of Civil Defense carried out 3 transportation mission for dialysis patients to hospitals based on the Minister of Interior and Municipalities Decision No. 479/2020. Since the decision was issued, the civil defense has transported 414 dialysis patients.
[1] Worldometers, 15 June
[2] SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC: COVID-19Humanitarian Update No. 12
[3] SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC: COVID-19Humanitarian Update No. 12
[4]Naharnet, June 14, 2020, http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/272555-lebanon-records-only-four-new-coronavirus-cases
[5] Masrawy, June 12, 2020, https://www.masrawy.com/news/news_publicaffairs/details/2020/6/12/1807926