The Coronavirus COVID-19 situation in the Middle East
Report: 1 to 15 January 2021
In this March 29, 2020 file photo, Egyptian security forces cordon off roads during curfew hours as prevention measures due to the coronavirus outbreak, in Cairo, Egypt. AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty
Egypt
Corona cases, deaths and recovered are distributed as follows:
152,719 corona confirmed cases
120,312 recovered
8,362 deaths
· Egyptian Minister of Health and Population Hala Zayed announced that Egypt is negotiating with the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (Gavi) to provide 20 percent of its coronavirus vaccines.[1]
· Egypt suffers from the lack of oxygen tanks in hospitals which is the reason behind the high number of deaths.[2]
Jordan’s first physician to take the vaccine, January 13, 2021, photo credit: arab news.
16 million doses were purchased from the British AstraZeneca company and 1.5 million doses from the US Pfizer company, Dec 25, 2021, photo credit: AA news
Iraq
Corona cases, deaths and recovered are distributed as follows:
605,416 corona confirmed cases
562,575 recovered
12,915 deaths
· The Iraqi government during the end of December purchased 17.5M doses of vaccine.[5]
A man checks his mobile phone as he sits near the emergency entrance of the coronavirus testing center at the Rafik Hariri University Hospital in Beirut, Lebanon, Monday, Jan. 11, 2021. Lebanon's caretaker prime minister said Monday the country has entered a "very critical zone" in the battle against coronavirus as his government mulls tightening nationwide lockdown announced last week. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)
Lebanon
Corona cases, deaths and recovered are distributed as follows:
147,613 corona confirmed cases
103,057 recovered
1,210 deaths
· Lebanon entered a new full lockdown as the government had announced that its health system is under strain.[6]
· The number of new corona cases has reached on some occasions above 5000, forcing several medical experts to admit Lebanon has lost control over the situation.
According to Minister of Health, Ministry plans have been developed to open new wards at hospitals and expand existing intensive care units to be able to cope with any health developments relating to the pandemic. Dec 27, 2020 Photo credit:
Palestine
Corona cases, deaths and recovered are distributed as follows:
149,769 corona confirmed cases
134,977 recovered
1,658 deaths
· Minister of Health Mai Alkaila claimed that the current wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Palestine will reach its peak towards the end of upcoming February. Moreover, there is no date set for the arrival of the vaccine.[7]
Syria
Corona cases, deaths and recovered are distributed as follows:
12,660 corona confirmed cases
6,259 recovered
799 deaths
·The President of the Doctors Syndicate announced the death of 130 doctors during the last period, 100 of whom were confirmed dead due to their infection with the virus and the rest due to other diseases, but some of them were suspected of being infected with the virus, but it was not diagnosed. Most of those who have died are between 50 and 60 years old.
· On 6 Jan, the Governor of Tartous issued a decision to close "cafeterias" and cafes at 7 pm, and close restaurants and fast food stores at 12 pm at night. [8]
Vaccination at a Nicosia nursing home, photo credit: Cyprus Mail.
Cyprus
Corona cases, deaths and recovered are distributed as follows:
28,124corona confirmed cases
2,057 recovered
163 deaths
· In a report by the ministry of health, more than half of Cyprus’s corona-related death happened in December.[9]
· The first vaccinations with the Pfizer mRNA vaccines began in Cyprus on the 27th of December.
Communication and Public Relations Department
[1] Arab News, January 13, 2021, https://www.arabnews.com/node/1791636/middle-east
[2] Business Insider, Jan 6, 2021, https://www.businessinsider.com/egypt-video-icu-covid-19-died-no-oxygen-claims-investigation-2021-1
[3]Wio News, Dec 27, 2021 https://www.wionews.com/world/jordan-reports-two-cases-of-new-infectious-strain-of-coronavirus-352795
[4] Arab News, January 13, 2021, https://www.arabnews.com/node/1791926/middle-east
[5]AA, Dec 25, 2020, https://www.aa.com.tr/en/latest-on-coronavirus-outbreak/iraq-egypt-purchase-covid-19-vaccine/2088494
[6] Vatican News, Jan 10, 2021,https://www.vaticannews.va/en/world/news/2021-01/lebanon-covid-lockdown-economy-crisis-government.html
[7] Wafa, https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/122623
[8] Syria Daily News, Jan 6, 2021, http://syriadailynews.com/49897
[9] Cyprus-Mail, Dec. 30, 2020, https://cyprus-mail.com/2020/12/30/coronavirus-deadly-december-as-pandemic-surges/