MECC Coronavirus (COVID 19) Weekly Report
SYRIA: COVID-19
Humanitarian Update No. 11
Reporting period: from May 30 to June 6, 2020
Coronavirus cases: 125 Deaths: 6 Recovered: 58[1]
Highlights
As of 6 June, the Syrian Ministry of Health (MoH) confirmed 125 people with COVID-19, including 6 people who died and 58 who recovered.
To date, the reported cases with COVID-19 across Syria included 1 case in Dar’a Governorate, 80 in Damascus, 36 in Rural Damascus, 2 cases in As-Sweida’a Governorate, 5 cases in Homs Governorate, and 1 case in Lattakia Governorate
Of the cases announced to date, 84 cases were imported, including Syrian nationals recently repatriated from Kuwait (47), the United Arab Emirates (UAE) (11), Sudan (11), and Russia (5).
Of the six fatalities in Government of Syria (GoS)-controlled areas, five were in Damascus and one in Rural Damascus.
As of 31 May 735 samples from patients were collected in NWS. Of these, 345 were from Aleppo Governorate and 390 from Idleb Governorate through the Early Warning, Alert and Response Network (EWARN) system, and tested in a laboratory in Idelb.
In NES, low surveillance capacity remains a challenge in determining the true status of a COVID-19 outbreak.
Updated Measures
In GoS- controlled areas, the minister of Local Administration and Environment issues a circular to open sports clubs of all kinds, with an emphasis on the need to adhere to the requirements of maintaining public health. The Syrian Cabinet agreed on 31 May to reopen restaurants, parks and all tourist facilities with an emphasis on taking all health and preventive measures.
In NES, local authorities announced on 26 May that the current curfew hours (7pm-7am) would be extended until at least 5 June with some minor relaxations. Cafes, schools and universities will remain closed. Restaurants were allowed to open for takeaway purposes and all religious buildings will be reopened.
In NWS, individual crossing to and from Turkey remains restricted while humanitarian and commercial deliveries are authorized. Movement remains restricted between Afrin, Azaz, Jarablus and Albab, while the crossings to NES and to GoS-controlled areas continue to be closed for all movements and commercial shipments.
Humanitarian Impact
As of 31 May, COVID-19 preventative measures continue to impact humanitarian access in Syria despite a general relaxation of the several rules issued in the various parts of the country now being observed.
Because of the impacts of COVID-19, the daily deterioration of the exchange rate and the imposed sanctions, the economic impact continues across Syria. Despite fluctuating prices and availability, significant daily increases have been reported in general on prices and shortages in basic commodities, medicines especially for the major chronic disease, and personal sterilization tools.
Preparedness and Response
Currently, sectors are finalizing preparations to support the national exams, including humanitarian support to around 29,000 students who will travel cross-line to government-controlled areas in Aleppo, Ar-Raqqa, Deir-ez-Zor and Idlib governorates.
Multi-sectoral support will include temperature checks at crossing points, Infection prevention and control (IPC) measures such as sterilization of accommodation and examination centres and the provision of PPE to teachers, invigilators and observers; as well as the provision of meals, NFIs and dignity kits.
As the response expands, there is a greater need to enhance the surveillance system and increase national laboratory capacity at sub-national level.
Across NES and NWS, countermeasures taken to mitigate the potential spread of COVID-19 coupled with the ongoing along with the already high levels of needs - including 1.7 million people in NES and 2.8 million people in NWS - continue to exacerbate an already dire humanitarian situation on the ground.
In NES (as of 29 May), at least 151 samples have been collected through three surveillance systems for testing.
A laboratory in Idleb with a capacity to test 100 samples per day remains instrumental to test samples of potential cases. to date, 304 triage tents have been distributed or installed in and 104 hospitals and primary health centres (PHC) have enacted COVID-19 triage systems in NWS.
Across the NWS, 4 hospitals with intensive care units (ICUs) are operational to receive severe cases of COVID-19 and two community based treatment centres (CBTC) are operational to isolate mild to moderate cases. A further 28 CBTCs are in the process of being established, providing a targeted capacity of over 1,500 beds.
The NES Preparedness response plan (PRP) is planned to be updated in June and will include updated/ nuanced scenarios and planning assumptions to enhance the prioritization of interventions.
One WHO partner trained 68 of its workers on COVID-19, and displayed Information, Education and Communication (IEC) across 10 schools, 12 waste management points and five water trucks to display related IEC, while another displayed 4,580 posters. Still another partner trained 10 awareness workers, delivered 1,846 sessions through camp, household, and collective shelter visits in addition to those at health facility-based sessions, while another partner delivered 329 sessions and trained 60 workers on COVID-19 awareness, and 60 on psychological first aid (PFA) related to COVID-19.
Seven WHO partners delivered close to 6,000 individual awareness sessions, while two delivered 634 hygiene kits.
A total of 397 Community-based health workers (CHWs) completed their COVID-19 awareness training with support from WHO and a partner.
In the reporting period, UNICEF provided 17,525 soap bars in Homs and Hama; UNICEF have provided approximately 50,800 families with soap since 1 May. In Deir-Ez-Zor, additional soap distributions for 60,980 families is ongoing.
To date, UNFPA has distributed 3,667 dignity kits and 5,859 sanitary napkins through partners in three governorates.
Over the reporting period, one UNICEF partner distributed 2,470 sanitization kits, while another distributed 3,000 hygiene kits in rural Aleppo and 10,000 hygiene kits in Rural Damascus.
In NES (as of 28 May), there are currently 16 prepared isolation centres for moderate cases, with five currently operational (approximately 319 out of 899 available beds).
In NES (as of 28 May), NGOs rely on a combination of local procurement for basic medical items (such as basic PPEs), procurement from the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) and international procurement.
In NWS (as of 31 May), WHO continues to monitor the situation in activated four COVID-19 designated hospitals with a capacity of 36 ICU beds, 23 ventilators, and 100 hospital beds. Meanwhile, the health partners continue to scale-up the capacity of hospitals with tentative planning of adding another 50 ICU beds and 37 ventilators. To strengthen the capacity of the four active designated hospitals, 35 ventilators will be distributed
In NWS (as of 31 May), as part of the dedicated COVID-19 Syria Cross-Border Humanitarian Fund (SCHF) funding, the Turkish Red Crescent procured 1.3 million three-layer surgical masks, 1.1 million powder-free nitrite gloves, 200,000 EN149 masks/FFP2, 100,000 protective suits, 27,000 safety goggles and 35 intensive care unit (ICU) ventilators and delivered to the dedicated warehouses for distribution.
WHO received an in-kind donation from Italy which includes three NCD kits, one trauma kit, one surgical kit, and several modules of Trauma Emergency Surgery Kits (TESK 2019). In addition, WHO received a total of five disinfectant and five glove modules, including 5,000 examination gloves and 2,500 surgical gloves in total.
Total financial requirements of US $122 million for COVID-19 related supplies are part of overall COVID-19 response requirements, as identified by and consolidated across all hubs. [2]
Lebanon: COVID-19
Humanitarian Update No. 08
Reporting period: from June 2 to June 9, 2020
Coronavirus cases: 1350 Deaths: 30 Recovered: 779
Highlights
Lebanon was designated by Forbes Magazine as the 77th safest country when taking into context the coronavirus.[4]
The Coronavirus Committee during a meeting with the Minister of Public Health Dr. Hamad Hassan elaborated about how the testing for the coronavirus campaign was being done, and reassured that there is no community-wide spread of the virus.
The infectivity rate of covid-19 spiked in one day after one returning national failed to quarantine herself and infected 42 people.
According to the IMF, Lebanon is recording dangerous levels of social disturbances, due to the economic and pandemic situation.
Updated measures
The Cabinet decided to extend its general mobilization until the 5th of July.[5]
The Ministry of Interior under Circular No. 55 extended the opening and closing times of businesses.[6]
Nurseries were reopened on the 8th of June, under the instructions of the Minister of Public Health.
The Ministry of Interior, in response to the usage of certain documents to freely use commercial cars, clarified that documents only issued by the ministry by decree are valid.
Humanitarian Impact
According to UN Women, the Lebanese Security Forces reported an increase of 110% in hotline calls reporting domestic violence when compared to 97% complaints in March 2019.
By the end of September, the covid-19 and economic situation in Lebanon will lead to 1 million unemployed people, according to a study done by “Nida’ El Watan” Newspaper.
The International Crisis Group, Brussels-based think tank, warned that Lebanon is in a situation in which it needs immediate emergency aid.[7]
The coronavirus pandemic is still forcing humanitarian actors to suspend their activities and resort to virtual means.[8]
Preparedness and response
During the launch of the Inspection Committees in Baabda, The Minister of Public Health Dr. Hamad Hassan urged all those involved to preserve public money and develop a patient service strategy.[9]
The Ministry of Public Health, performed PCR tests on Syrian refugees in Talhayat – Akka.
During his visit to Barja, The Minister of Public Health Dr. Hamad Hassan, urged citizens to wear protective masks and to take preventive measures.
The Minister of Public Health, Dr. Hamad Hassan held an extended meeting to discuss ways of preparing and coordinating the next stage and raising readiness against covid-19 especially before the launch of the fourth stage of the return of arrivals on the eleventh of this month.
The Ministry of Health, in cooperation with the World Health Organization, the United Nations and the Nurses and Municipalities Union, began work to establish quarantine centers, supervised and managed by the ministry.
Although there are still no cases reported at the Roumieh prison, preparations are still under way by the UNHCR in case an outbreak occurs. [10]
The Lebanese American University LAU announced that its mobile clinic of the medical center completed its 35th humanitarian mission by conducting PCR tests in the Marjaayoun area. So far, 6000 free PCR examination in more than 144 Lebanese regions in 8 governorates have been conducted.
The Kafareman municipality conducted PCR checks, in cooperation with the Lebanese American University Medical Center, Rizk Hospital, and the Kafareman Charitable Dispensary, for more than 50 people who had been quarantined, and for the owners of shops, butcheries, and bakeries in the town.
The Minister of Public Health, Dr. Hamad Hassan during a meeting with heads of government hospitals, claimed that a tender will be launched to purchase medical equipment for the ministry to fight covid-19.
The Municipality of Arde in Zgharta, in cooperation with Balamand University conducted free PCR tests to people, who due to the nature of their work, are exposed to a lot of other people.
The Lebanese government, after discussions with Sri Lanka Ambassador Shani Calyaneratne agreed to conduct free PCR tests for Sri Lankans seeking to be repatriated.[11]
[1] Worldometers, 19 May
[2] Syrian Arab Republic COVID-19 Response Update No.05
[3]Syrian Arab Republic COVID-19 Response Update No.05
[4]LBC Group, June 7, 2020, https://www.lbcgroup.tv/news/d/corona-virus/525733/
[5]Arab News, June 5, 2020, https://www.arabnews.com/node/1685136/middle-east
[6]http://www.interior.gov.lb/AdsDetails.aspx?ida=357
[7] Naharnet, June 8, 2020, http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/272391
[8] https://reliefweb.int/report/lebanon/european-union-grant-helps-mcc-support-peacebuilding-projects-middle-east
[9] https://www.moph.gov.lb
[10]Al-Monitor, June 3, 2020, https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2020/06/lebanon-coronavirus-refugees-foreign-workers-clusters.html
[11] Mena Fn, June 6, 2020, https://menafn.com/1100282285/Lebanon-agrees-to-conduct-free-PCR-tests-for-Sri-Lankans-seeking-to-be-repatriated