MECC Coronavirus (COVID 19) Weekly Report

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Written By Communication & PR Department Communication
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SYRIA: COVID-19

Humanitarian Update No. 13

Reporting period: from 15 to 21 June 2020

Coronavirus cases: 198                 Deaths: 7                  Recovered: 83[1]



Highlights

  • As of 20 June, the Syrian Ministry of Health (MoH) confirmed 198 people tested positive with COVID-19, including 7 people who died and 83 who recovered. Of the 198 cases, 86 cases were announced as imported.

  • To date, the Syrian MoH has reported 198 people with COVID-19 across Syria, including 100 cases in Damascus; 67 in Rural  Damascus;  one  in  Dar’a;  one  in  Lattakia;  one  in  Hama;  two  in  As-Sweida;  five  in  Homs; nine in Al Quneitra, eleven in Jdaydat al-Fadle  and  one other case for a person who has come from Lebanon.[2]

  • Of the seven fatalities in Government of Syria (GoS)-controlled areas, five were in Damascus and two in Rural Damascus. To date, the Syrian MoH has announced 83 recoveries.[3]

  • The economic impact comes atop the complexity of COVID-19 preventive measures to exacerbate an already dire humanitarian situation for people where only 17 percent of children and mothers who need treatment for acute malnutrition were reached, leaving a gap for more than 57,000 individuals.


Updated precautionary measures

  • Ministry of Religious Endowments (Awqaf) on Friday 19 June, announced the suspension of prayers in all mosques of Jdeidet al-Fadel and Jdeidet Artooz al-Balad, Damascus countryside, until further notice, in line with the procedures taken by the Ministry of Health after detecting cases of coronavirus in the area.[4]

  • The Health Ministry on Saturday 20 June, announced imposing a lockdown on Jdeidet al-Fadil town which is affiliated to al-Quneitra Province.[5]


Preparedness and response

  • Over the reporting period, WHO delivered to the Syrian MoH, 40 screening kits, extraction kits (28,750 reactions) and a quantitative Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) kit (2,500 reactions), and 4,000 swab and viral transport mediums to Central Public Health Laboratories (CPHL).

  • One of WHO partners continued delivering awareness activities in 212 different public facilities. One partner distributed soap to 7,341 households and trained 17 water unit staff on COVID-19 sensitization.

  • UNICEF launched entertainment activities and is supporting safety vans in various governorates to deliver awareness messages to some 157,000 children and their families.

  • Following discussions between the Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) group and WASH Cluster, partners are collaborating to distribute 720,000 food parcels with soap, including 420,000 with COVID-19 stickers, instead of the in-person distribution of brochures.

  • The Coronavirus Awareness Team (CAT) provided a one-month distribution plan of Personal protective equipment (PPE) for 1,600 awareness workers to WHO and received the approval plan from the supply team in WHO office.

  • In NES (as of 12 June), at least 197 samples have been collected in response to alerts received through one of the three surveillance systems operational to track reports of suspected cases, conduct case investigation and ultimately contain the virus’s spread.

  • In  NES  (as  of  15  June),  two  of  the  four  polymerase chain reaction (PCR) machines  acquired  by  local  authorities  in  Qamishli  and  Tall  Refaat  (not accessible to NES partners) are operational.

  • Two NES NGOs have committed to cover 49 collective centres in Hassakeh with a full package of Infection prevention and control (IPC) / Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) -related interventions.

  • Meanwhile, NES NGOs are providing Infection prevention and control (IPC) / Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) IPC/RCCE-related assistance to 60 informal settlements, including 17 in Aleppo (Menbij), 34 in Raqqa and nine in Deir-ez-Zor.

  • In northwest Syria. Some 60 percent of the people who need to access a safe water supply are being reached, leaving a gap of 1.3 million people.

  • In NWS (as of 16 June), no laboratory confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been reported. The completeness and timeliness of the sentinel sites were 92 percent and 57 per cent respectively compared to 99 per cent and 85 per cent from previous week  (as  of  5  June).

  • To date, WHO has delivered over 1.3 million Personal protective equipment (PPE) items, including surgical masks, gloves, reusable heavy-duty aprons, gowns, head covers, alcohol hand-rubs, medical masks, and goggles.  

  • In addition to light rehabilitation completed at an isolation centre in Dar’a (Al Bassel Education Centre) a partner continues to support light rehabilitation at the designated isolation center in Deir-Ez-Zor.

  • WASH sector partners continue to deliver increased quantities of soap and hygiene kits. In the reporting period, UNICEF provided a top up to the WFP e-voucher programme to enable 1,420 families in Tartous and Lattakia governorates to purchase hygiene items.

  • In Raqqa Governorate, there are an estimated 2,800 Households(HHs) across 19 informal settlements not receiving any additional assistance related to COVID-19 where Covid-19 kits will be distributed in the coming two months by one NES NGO. In Deir-ez-Zor there is so far no planned response in 47 mapped informal settlements with an estimated population of around 2,000 HHs while one NES NGO completed Covid-19 kits distributions in two informal settlements hosting 240 HHs.

  • A  total  of  136  Health centres (PHC) doctors  (113  males  and  13  females)  have  attended  the  face-to-face Mental  Health  Gap  Action  Programme (mhGAP 2.0) with seven training sessions completed across Azzaz, Idleb-Aldana, and Afrin, training sessions .[6]


Lebanon: COVID-19

Humanitarian Update No. 10

Reporting period: from 17 to 23 June 2020

Coronavirus cases: 1603         Deaths: 32          Recovered: 1077


Highlights

  • In a dramatic turn of events, the MOH announced that 51 new corona cases, have been registered on the 21st of June.[7]

  • The dramatic rise in corona cases came along a deepening health crisis prevailing in the country; certain medicines are no longer found in stores, and hospitals are unable to buy new medical equipment.[8]

  • After the MOH announced Sunday’s results, rumors started to circulate about a new set of measures.

  • In response to what’s being shared on news channels and the general media, The Minister of Public Health, Dr. Hamad Hassan assured that the situation is under control and no further concern is needed.

Updated measures

  • The Minister of Public Health, Dr. Hamad Hassan during his visit to Baalbeck, reiterated that starting from July 1, more expats will return to Lebanon.

  • The Ministry of Interior under Circular No. 58 on 20/6/2020 related to amending the opening and closing times of industrial and commercial establishments as well as opening all amusement parks and children’s playgrounds, under the condition of adhering to the safety measures.

  • The MOI also Implemented the extension of the general mobilization procedures according to the decision of the Council of Ministers. The general mobilization extension begins on 8/6/2020 and will remain active until 5/7/2020.

Risks

  • Same risks still persist from report number 9.

  • Caesar Act Law.

Preparedness and response

  • Action Against Hunger, as a part of the Lebanon Protection Consortium, distributed hygiene supplies, disinfection kits, and communication materials and organized awareness sessions on COVID-19 in West Bekaa and Arsal.

  • Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) dispatched teams to Burj Al-Barajneh refugee camp where they are working with families living in in Beirut, Lebanon, to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

  • The Minister of Public Health, Dr. Hamad Hassan inspected Tibnine Hospital, Marjayoun Hospitals, and Mays AL jabal Hospitals.

  • The Minister of Public Health, Dr. Hamad Hassan, in response to the Caesar Act law, assured the country that it will not affect hospitals.

  • The Ministry of Public Health dispatched 5 teams to Perform tests in the Regions that witnessed a surge in the number of infections.

  • The Internal Security Forces (ISF) aided Barja municipality in isolating 12 buildings.

  • ISF also issued a number of fines to 2489 people not wearing medical masks up until 21 June.

  • The General Directorate of Civil Defense prepared 427 personnel and 69 ambulances, to interfere, when necessary, and transport those infected with the emerging coronavirus. The directorate also carried out sterilization missions in public and private areas.


[1] Worldometers, 21 June

[2] SANA, 20 June

[3] SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC, COVID-19 Response Update No.06 As of 19 June 2020

[4] SANA , 19 June

[5] SANA, 21 June

[6] SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC, COVID-19 Response Update No.06 As of 19 June 2020


[7]Annahar, June 20, 2020, https://www.annahar.com/article/1215890

[8]Arab News, June 19, 2020, https://www.arabnews.com/node/1692016/middle-east



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