MECC Coronavirus (COVID 19) Weekly Report
SYRIA: COVID-19
Humanitarian Update No. 20
Reporting period: from 3 to 9 August 2020
Coronavirus cases: 1,188 Active cases: 790 Recovered: 346 Deaths: 52 [1]
Highlights
As of 9 August, the Syrian Ministry of Health (MoH) confirmed 1,188 people tested positive with COVID-19, including 52 people who died and 346 who recovered.
The COVID-19 outbreak of Syria is now out of control and overwhelming the limited capacities of the war-torn country’s health care sector. That based on local reporting, the Damascus governorate alone likely suffered hundreds of excess deaths attributable to Coronavirus, suggesting that tens of thousands of residents of the capital may have already been infected. Local Associate Health Manager was quoted this week with an estimate of 112,500 active cases in Damascus alone, While these numbers cover only the capital region, the outbreak has also spread to other governorates[2].
In north-west Syria (as of 09 August), 45 people with COVID-19 have been identified. The percentage of healthcare workers affected is significant. Of all cases, 47 % are health care workers.
As of 4 August, 34 people with COVID-19 were reported in north-east Syria (NES), including one death and five people who recovered.
According to available MoH data, nearly 28 % of cases required hospitalization, including, in some cases, oxygenation or mechanical ventilation in ICU units. [3]
Preventive measures
In GoS-controlled areas, the daily curfew and travel ban between and within governorates remain lifted. Most public spaces remain open, with some localized lockdowns following the identification of COVID-19 cases.
Local authorities in NES reinstated a partial curfew. Included in this was the banning of all mass gatherings, including weddings and funerals, while restaurants are now limited to take-away service only.
Preparedness and response
Direct awareness raising through teams at distributions and door-to-door continues, as does engagement at universities, of religious leaders in mosques, and with church networks.
In Homs, partners have concluded a 10-day campaign on risk communication and community engagement, with 74 health workers trained on COVID-19-related risk communication principles and communication skills over five days. In Deir-EzZor, one partner, in collaboration with SARC, went door-to-door to 889 households to provide awareness raising, including on symptoms and preventive measures.
In the reporting period, WHO supported the Syrian MoH to conduct screening of suspected COVID-19 cases in Ras al-Ma’ara in Rural Damascus and Jdeidet al-Fadl in Quneitra; both areas subject to lockdown following clusters of confirmed cases.[4]
In the reporting period, WHO supported the 25 active surveillance teams to conduct 450 visits, in addition to active finding of suspected cases. In addition, WHO further supported a session for health worker teams on case definition and prevention measures.
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.
During the reporting period, UNICEF in collaboration with SARC continued distribution of family hygiene kits in areas of Idleb Governorate, including 3,250 people in Abo-Al Dohur, and an additional 12,092 people in Sinjar.
To date, humanitarian partners have been informed by local authorities of 34 identified quarantine facilities and 50 isolation spaces in 13 governorates. At the central level, the MoH has announced 23 isolation centres are currently running, with a cumulative capacity of 1,018 beds, including 841 isolation beds, 177 ICU beds, and 149 ventilators. The 30 quarantine centres are reported to have 5,774 beds. In the reporting period, information has been received indicating that some patients have been requested by some isolation centres to quarantine at home.
In the reporting period, WHO supported specialist training for 175 healthcare workers from five governorates, targeting doctors, nurses and anesthesia technicians working in intensive care unit (ICU) and emergency departments.
A total of 96 primary health care doctors and nurses have completed the package of essential non-communicable disease Interventions (PEN) training, and 48 psychosocial workers have completed mental health and psychosocial support training, and 48 pharmacists have completed non-communicable diseases pharmacy management training.
To date, the number of active sentinel sites in NWS has been increased from nine during the pre-COVID situation to 113.
In NWS, A total of 159 hospitals and primary health centres (PHC) have been equipped with COVID 19 triage systems, and four community-based treatment centres (CCTC) have been operationalized to treat patients with mild-to-moderate cases of COVID-19.
In NWS (as of 3 August), a total of 3,543 samples were collected from NWS, including 1,509 from Aleppo and 2,034 from Idleb. Some 1,551 samples have been tested since reporting of the first case from NWS, with a test positivity rate of 2.3 per cent.
In NES, there are up to 21 prepared isolation centres for moderate-severe cases, with five currently operational (approximately 309 out of 975 available beds).
In NWS (as of 3 AUG, there are nine hospitals designated for COVID-19 response, five of which are fully operational and receiving suspected cases.
Under the COVID-19 taskforce, a survey was developed to track the gaps in Personal protective equipment (PPE) and Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) materials. Findings from 17 participating NGOs supporting 124 health facilities as of 30 July are as follows:[5]
Lebanon: COVID-19
Humanitarian Update No. 17
Reporting period: from 5 to 11 August 2020
[Please note: Due to the severity of the bomb blast in Beirut, all attention was diverted away from the pandemic and therefore, the topic wasn't given top priority by our various sources.]
Coronavirus cases: 6,812 Deaths: 80 Recovered: 2,290
Highlights
During this reporting period, the number of corona cases reached a new record of 294 cases per day on the 9th of August.
Due to the massive explosion that occurred in Beirut, the government paused lockdown measures.
Since the international community had rushed to aid Lebanon by pumping money to the country, the government discussed reinstating lockdown measures and shutting down the airport.
During this period, hospitals, which were overwhelmed with injured people, lost most of its manpower to fight corona.
Updated measures
The Ministry issued a circular on the mechanism that should improve the detection of positive cases across land and sea borders.
Temporarily paused the general mobilization decision which circular 6665/2020 dictated.
Risks
Gathering of citizens in hiking areas without committing to preventive measures
Demonstrations.
Non-compliance of citizens with preventive measures
Social gatherings and celebrations
Preparedness and response
The Minister of Public Health, Dr. Hamad Hassan, proposed to declare a state of emergency in some districts.
The Minister of Public Health, Dr. Hamad Hassan, during a meeting he chaired in Zahleh, declared that the country is heading towards a wider lockdown.
[1] Worldometers, 09 August 2020
[2] Syria-in-context, 06 August
[3] OCHA, Syria, COVID-19 Response Update No.08
[4] SYRIA, COVID-19 Response Update No.08 As of 4 August 2020
[5] OCHA, Syria, COVID-19 Response Update No.08