MECC Coronavirus (COVID 19) Weekly Report
SYRIA: COVID-19
Humanitarian Update No. 18
Reporting period: from 21 to 26 July 2020
Coronavirus cases: 650 Deaths: 38 Recovered: 200[1]
Highlights
As of 26 July, Number of people confirmed by the Ministry of Health (MoH) to have COVID-19: 650 (38 fatalities, 200 recovered).
In Syria, 650 laboratory-confirmed cases have been reported by the MoHto date: 368 in Damascus; 141 in Rural Damascus; 36 in Quneitra; 30 in Aleppo; 29 in Lattakia; 10 in Hama; 9 in Dar’a; 16 in As-Sweida; 10 in Homs; 1 case in Tartous.
Of the cases announced to date by the MoH, 44 are reported to be healthcare workers, the majority in Damascus. This includes 34 in Damascus, six in Rural Damascus, two in Aleppo, and one each in Quneitra and As-Sweida. This highlights the particular risks faced by healthcare workers; and underscores –given Syria’s fragile healthcare system with already insufficient numbers of qualified healthcare personnel –the potential for its overstretched healthcare capacity to be further compromised[2].
As of 24 July, the MoH has reported approximately 12,416 tests have been performed in laboratories in Damascus, Aleppo, Homs and Lattakia governorates, with a current average of 226 tests performed per day.
According to available MoH data, nearly 28 % of cases presented as severe/critical requiring hospitalization, including, in some cases, oxygenation or mechanical ventilation in intensive care unit (ICU) units.
Humanitarian actors have also received unverified reports concerning additional possible cases, While the UN is not in a position to verify this information; it is of note that official cases confirmed by the MoH have increased more than 100 per cent in July, and the source of 277cases to date remains unknown, potentially indicating that community transmission is now widespread.
In Northwest Syria, As of 25 July, 23 people with COVID-19 have been identified. That almost 3,000 samples had been tested for COVID-19. A total of 159 hospitals and primary health centres (PHC) have been equipped with COVID19 triage systems, and four community-based treatment centres (CCTC) have been operationalised to treat patients with mild-to-moderate cases of COVID-19.
In Northeast Syria, on 23 July, authorities in NES announced a further four in Qamishli (3) and Al-Hasakeh city (1); the first announced cases in NES in over two months.[3]
Preventive measures
On 20 July, the MoH announced that halls utilized for events including weddings and condolence gatherings would be closed, unless open-air, in which case a 40 % capacity must be adhered to.
On 22 July, the Ministry of Endowments announced the suspension of Eid Al-Adha prayers in Damascus and Rural Damascus governorates and all religious teaching seminars. However, Friday prayers and mass prayers with preventive measures are allowed to continue.
The Religious Endowments (Awqaf) Ministry announced that prayers for funerals have been suspended in mosques in Damascus and its countryside until further notice.[4]
The Cabinet called on citizens to stay at homes during Eid al-Adha and stay away from gatherings and crowded places as much as possible, stressing that the current stage requires high degree of awareness and responsibility.[5]
The Ministry of Health announced on 23 July, that the quarantine has been lifted from the town of Ras al-Maarrah in Damascus countryside after conducting extensive medical surveys.
Mosques and churches are allowed open, so long as physical distancing and Preventive measures are observed.
Further reports indicated that some recent lockdowns of private and public buildings due to COVID-19 in various locations, including in NES.
In NES, local authorities reinstated a partial curfew. This includes the banning of all mass gatherings, including weddings and funerals, and restaurants to be only allowed for take-away.
In the reporting period, the Minister of Health publicly stated that broad-based restrictions would not be re-imposed due to economic and social impacts.
Preparedness and response
In the reporting period, sectors continued support to students sitting national exams, that Partners are planning to provide support to a second batch of students to sit additional round of exam for the students of high school certificate, expected to occur next month.
During the reporting period, it was agreed between UN and authorities that key messages going forward should include the assistance to the elderly in light of COVID-19, and necessity for the elderly to remain at home where possible.
In NES, UNICEF supported a mine risk education and COVID-19 campaign in Areesha camp, including the training of 65 community volunteers.
In the reporting period, WHO supported the 25 active surveillance teams to conduct 450 visits, in addition to active finding of suspected cases.
To date, WHO has provided enzyme kits (31,240 reactions), extraction kits (27,250reactions), screening kits(57,792 reactions)and confirmatory testing kits(1,920 tests), 52,000swabs and viral transport medium for sample collection, and five polymerase chain reaction (PCR)machines.
In the reporting period, UNICEF also provided PPE to hospitals in Damascus and Rural Damascus, including 77,500 surgical masks, 4,850 hands sanitizers, 7,200 disposable non-woven surgical caps,and 1,550 boxes of 100 glove pairs.
At the central level, the MoH has announced 23 isolation centers are currently running, with a cumulative capacity of 1,018 beds, including 841 isolation beds, 177ICU beds, and 149 ventilators. The 30 quarantine centers are reported to have 5,774 beds.
To date, 52 tons of medical supplies have been distributed to 17 hospitals, including seven in cross-line areas, two private hospitals serving as referrals for Al-Hol, six supported by NGOs operating in NES, and two hospitals in areas of government control. Of the 571 emergency health kits delivered to date, over 70 per cent was delivered to health facilities in cross-line areas. An additional 17.4 tons was delivered to other partners including SARC. Distribution of the remaining 33 tons covering more than 40 primary health care facilities is ongoing.
In NES, there are up to 21 prepared isolation centers for moderate-severe cases, with five currently operational (approximately 309 out of 975 available beds).
To date, WHO has delivered two shipment of PPEs (28,641 items)and six thermal screening devices to Al-Hol Camp.
Within Syria, the financial requirements for the revised COVID-19 operational response plan are currently estimated at $188.6 million.[6]
Lebanon: COVID-19
Humanitarian Update No. 15
Reporting period: from 22 to 28 July 2020
Coronavirus cases: 3,882 Deaths: 51 Recovered: 1,709
Highlights
During this reporting period, the number of corona cases continued to skyrocket at unprecedented levels ( peaking on 25 July- 175 cases) with an average of 150 new cases per day.
Several experts from medical backgrounds warned of the collapse of the health sector, if immediate measures are not taken.[7]
The spike in corona comes amid worsening socio-economic conditions within the country and deteriorating security conditions at the southern border.
Several media outlets within the country named some known political figures and celebrities that have contracted the virus.
Updated measures
The Ministry of Public Health banned hookahs in restaurants.
The Ministry of Public Health announced that Lebanon has become in the 4th stage and the virus is at the level of a local outbreak. As such, this requires a full commitment to safety procedures. Additionally, all those infected and who do not have the general safety conditions for isolation at home will be transferred to the approved quarantine centers.
The ministry issued Memorandum No. 74 / AM / 2020 on 23/7/2020 regarding the procedures and measures required to face this stage of the virus spread, whereby all citizens are asked to resume full compliance with public safety measures. Those who fail to adhere to these measures will face consequences of Article 604 of The Penal Code. In addition, owners of all public and private institutions must adhere to the maximum public safety measures
The Ministry of Interior and Municipalities, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Public Works and Transport issued a circular to all arrivals to Lebanon which requires them to report the results of their PCR tests, 96 hours prior to their arrival.
Risks
Same risks still persist from report number 9 except items related to hookah.
Electricity blackouts.
Technical difficulties regarding the Ministry of Health’s Hotline number.
Preparedness and response
The ISF (Internal Security Forces) and the Ministry of Public Health launched a new detection method by using trained dogs to sniff out corona.
The Minister of Public Health Dr. Hamad Hassan conducted several visitations to hospitals and Pharmaceutical factories to boost and for quality assurance purposes.
The Minister of Public Health Dr. Hamad Hassan convened with political figures to discuss how to best deal with the evolving situation.
According to a report, the ISF has so far issued 4929 fines since 29/5/2020.
The Ministry of Tourism, in coordination with the Ministries of Public Health and the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities, are in the process of determining one or more hotels to be transformed into isolation centers.
[1] Worldometers, 20 July 2020
[2] Microsoft power BI.MOH
[3] Syrian Arab Republic: COVID-19 Update No. 15 - 24 July 2020
[4] SANA, 26 July
[5] SANA, 26 July
[6] Syrian Arab Republic: COVID-19 Update No. 15 - 24 July 2020
[7] Daily Star, July 27, 2020, http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Lebanon-News/2020/Jul-26/509482-lebanon-on-brink-of-losing-virus-control-dr-abiad.ashx