MECC Coronavirus (COVID 19) Weekly Report

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SYRIA: COVID-19

Humanitarian Update No. 15

Reporting period: from 30 June to 6 July 2020

Coronavirus cases: 372          Deaths: 14          Recovered: 126[1]

Highlights

  • Number of people confirmed by the Ministry of Health to have COVID-19: 372 (14 fatalities, 126 recovered).

  • In north-west Syria (NWS), no laboratory confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been reported as of 30 June 2020.    A total of 1,661 samples were collected of which  1,625  tested  negative  for  COVID-19  using  polymerase  chain  reaction  (PCR).  Results  for  the  remaining  36  cases  remain pending at the time of this report.

  • There have been six confirmed cases of COVID-19 in NES, resulting in one death with five cases having recovered.  To  date,  there  has  been  one  confirmed  cluster  of  COVID-19  cases,  centred  on  the  Al  Amran neighbourhood of Al-Hasakeh. There has been no confirmed community-level transmission reported.

  • Out of 13 cross-border/cross-line entry points, seven points of entry (PoE) are partially open and have measures in place to screen travelers, suspect and refer cases. Out of the 7 PoEs, five are cross-border.

  • Over the reporting period, the Akeirshi/ Shanan crossing point between GoS and non-GoS-controlled areas in Raqqa was reportedly partially reopened.

  • The ongoing covid-19 impacts and economic crisis have exacerbated humanitarian needs of the more than 11 million people across Syria in need. The poverty rate is over 90 %. Many Syrians report they are forced to borrow money to meet basic needs and eating less. 

Preparedness and Response

  • The MoH continues active case finding applying random sampling methods, including in Jdeidet al-Fadl, where to date a cluster of 11 reported cases have emerged.

  • To reduce the risk of importing and exporting cases of COVID-19, WHO has developed a three-tiered strategy to enhance preparedness and response capacity at points of entries (PoEs).

  • In the coming weeks, WHO will support the development of an assessment tool for the 15 official points of entries (PoEs) in GoS-controlled areas.

  • At  the  central  level,  the  MoH  has  announced  14  fully  equipped  isolation  centers  are  currently running, with a cumulative capacity of 549 beds, including 505 isolation beds, 114 Intensive care units (ICUs) beds, and 88 ventilators. The 37 quarantine centres are reported to have 4,865 beds.

  • WHO continues to deliver case management trainings (resuscitation and ventilation management). In the reporting period, 50 health workers were trained in Rural Damascus and Quneitra, at Al Nabak and Mamdouh Abaza national hospitals.

  • UNRWA continues to support increased sanitation activities through 120 sanitation labourers (18 recently recruited) at the nine official and accessible Palestine refugee camps (and one informal camp).

  • On 24 and 25 June, an online training for Syrian psychiatrists and resident psychiatrists was conducted, covering topics such as child and perinatal psychiatry. A total of eight Syrian psychiatrists attended it (four from inside Syria) and six resident psychiatrists.

  • WHO is preparing a total of 57 non-communicable disease (NCD) Kits for distribution by mid-July 2020, and started the procurement of NCD Kits worth around US$200,000. [2]

In North East Syria ( NES ):

o   Over the reporting period, 26 community and NGO volunteers working at the Al-Hol IDP camp were trained on community awareness.

o   With  support  from  external  stakeholders,  local  authorities  are  developing  “Guidance  for  Reopening  NES  Safely”.  Recognizing the economic and social pressure to resume economic activities and public services, the document aims to provide tailored guidance around different measures which should be adopted across different sectors of the economy to mitigate the virus’s spread.

o   Local authorities plan to establish seven to eight rapid response teams (RRTs) in NES (1-2 in Deir-ez-Zor, 1 in Raqqa, 1 in Tabqa, 1 in Kobane, 1 in Menbij, 1 in Hassakeh and 1 in Qamishli.).

o   Overall,  NES  NGOs  are  providing  IPC/ RCCE-related assistance to a total of 64 informal settlements ,19 of which are in Aleppo (Menbij), 38 of which are in Raqqa and seven of which are in Deir-ez-Zor.

o   In  Aleppo  Governorate,  of  the  31  informal  settlements  mapped,  no  response  is  reported  in  12  of  these  while  a  lack  of  additional water provision and handwashing facilities at the household level are reported as a gap in all 31 settlements. In Raqqa Governorate, there are an estimated 2,800 households across 19 informal settlements not receiving any additional assistance related to COVID-19. In  Deir-ez-Zor,  there  is  so  far  no  planned  response  in  47  mapped  informal  settlements  with  an  estimated population  of  around 2,000 households.[3]

In North West Syria (NWS):

o   Seven  WHO  partners  reported  that  745  awareness  workers  had reached  90,246  beneficiaries  with  different  awareness-raising  activities  across  Afrin,  Ariha,  Azaz,  Harim,  Idleb,  Jebel  Saman,  and  Jisr-Ash-Shugur.

o   WHO completed a two-day psychological  first  aid  (PFA) on  COVID-19  and  self-care  training  for  496  community  leaders  (including imams, local councils, women and youth leaders) in five areas of NWS (Idleb City, Bab al Hawa, Afrin, Bab al Salam, and Al Bab).

o   Through an implementing partner, WHO will support 660 Community-based health workers (CHWs) for five and a half months towards community engagement activities.

o   The COVID-19 mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS), non-communicable disease (NCD) and Information, Education and Communication (IEC) Materials Ad-Hoc Team was created to adopt all the WHO,  CDC  MHPSS  materials  to  context  for  creation  of  graphic  designs  and  distribution  thru  social  media. A database is being prepared for each of the MHPSS facilities in NWS.

o    WHO is preparing a three-hour Basic Psychosocial Skills Guide for COVID-19 Responders (WHO- the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) -MHPSS) including first responders, such as food distributors, health professionals, protection actors, transportation workers, among others.

o   As of 29 June, there were around 130 field visits completed by two overall field supervisors in Idleb and Afrin/Azzaz and seven field supervisors across NWS.

  Lebanon: COVID-19

Humanitarian Update No. 12

Reporting period: from July 1 to July 7, 2020

Coronavirus cases: 1,885          Deaths: 36          Recovered: 1,311

Highlights

  • Lebanon continued to record substantial number of new cases during this reporting period.

  • The Beirut Rafic Hariri Airport opened as scheduled on the 1st of July.[4] As such number of persons that returned to Lebanon during July 1 and July 6 and that had contracted corona, amounted to 51.

  • Because of the increase of the number of cases in Lebanon, Europe banned flights coming from Lebanon.[5]

  • Despite the increase in corona cases, the government did not announce any new preventive measures.

Updated measures

  • In coordination with the committee for the follow-up and prevention of coronavirus, the ministry set the price of PCR tests in the airport at 50 USD.

  • Based on the decision of the Council of Ministers on 30/6/2020 and based on the advice of the Supreme Council of Defense, the general mobilization decision was extended until 2/8/2020.

  • Building on the decision of the Council of Ministers which was issued on 31/3/2020, the land borders with Syria will be open on 7/2020 and 9/7/2020 from 9:00 to 16:00 for Lebanese citizens wishing to return to their home country.

Risks

  • Same risks still persist from report number 9.

  • Electricity blackouts.

Preparedness and response

  • The Minister of Public Health, Dr. Hamad Hassan convened with the French Development Agency's Director to discuss projects that will strengthen the Lebanese Health Sector. 

  • The Minister of Public Health, held a meeting with the representative of the World Health Organization Dr. Iman Shankiti to discuss ways furthering cooperation regarding the corona pandemic.

  • The Ministry of Public Health conducted several PCR tests in a wide variety of regions as the country opens up.

  • The Minister of Health announced a partnership contract with the Lebanese University to train medical students to support governmental hospitals.

  • The red cross declared via a report it published, that it has conducted so far 27515 PCR tests.

  • The MOPH allocated 750 million LBP to Kana Hospital for support and medical equipment.[6]

[1] Worldometers, 06 July 2020

[2] SYRIA COVID-19 Response Update No.07 As of 5 July 2020

[3] SYRIA COVID-19 Response Update No.07 As of 5 July 2020

[4] Arab News, July 2, 2020, https://www.arabnews.com/node/1698521/business-economy

[5]LBC Group, July 4, 2020, https://www.lbcgroup.tv/news/d/news-reports/531990/

[6] https://www.moph.gov.lb/

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MECC Coronavirus (COVID 19) Weekly Report