The Coronavirus COVID-19 situation in the Middle East

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Written By Communication & PR Department Communication

Report: 1 to 15 December 2020

The increase came amid repeated warnings by the government about a second wave of the pandemic. Photo credit: AFP.

The increase came amid repeated warnings by the government about a second wave of the pandemic. Photo credit: AFP.

Egypt

Corona cases, deaths and recovered are distributed as follows:

-143,464 corona confirmed cases

-114,601 recovered

-7,863 deaths

 

  • Egypt reported its highest daily confirmed cases in months, with over 911 confined cases and 42 fatalities, as authorities said New Year’s Eve celebrations would be canceled.

  • According to Sherine Helmy, chief executive officer at Pharco Pharmaceuticals, Egypt may become hub for producing the Russian vaccine.[1]

The new strain of the virus emerged earlier this month in Britain and has already reached several European countries, as well as Japan and Canada, Dec 27, 2020, photo credit: naharnet.com

The new strain of the virus emerged earlier this month in Britain and has already reached several European countries, as well as Japan and Canada, Dec 27, 2020, photo credit: naharnet.com

Jordan                                                                                                                              

Corona cases, deaths and recovered are distributed as follows:

-299,831 corona confirmed cases

-278,929 recovered

-3,919 deaths

 

  • Jordan is witnessing a surge in covid-19 cases as the death toll continues to increase daily.[2]

  • Two cases of a very infectious strain of corona has been detected in Jordan further exacerbating fears of the spread of the virus in Jordan.[3]

 

The company will handle shipping and storage for Iraq to use, Dec.27, 2020, photo credit: Arab News.

The company will handle shipping and storage for Iraq to use, Dec.27, 2020, photo credit: Arab News.

Iraq

Corona cases, deaths and recovered are distributed as follows:

-598,369 corona confirmed cases

-545,529 recovered

-12,844 deaths

 

  • Iraq’s National Medicine Selection authority gave an emergency approval for the use of Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine after it had reached the country.[4]

 

 

Man and woman sit back to back on a bench as they count worry beads at the Beirut corniche seaside promenade on Nov. 24, 2020. (File/AFP)

Man and woman sit back to back on a bench as they count worry beads at the Beirut corniche seaside promenade on Nov. 24, 2020. (File/AFP)

Lebanon

Corona cases, deaths and recovered are distributed as follows:

-192,139 corona confirmed cases

-134,367 recovered

-1,512 deaths

 

  • Lebanon’s Minister of Interior said the country may go into another lockdown if daily coronavirus cases continue to surge.

  • On the 21st of December, a case of the new strain of coronavirus has been detected in Lebanon.

  • During holidays, people attended large gatherings causing a sudden spike in new covid-19 cases reaching more than 3000 cases per day.

 

Man and woman sit back to back on a bench as they count worry beads at the Beirut corniche seaside promenade on Nov. 24, 2020. (File/AFP)

Man and woman sit back to back on a bench as they count worry beads at the Beirut corniche seaside promenade on Nov. 24, 2020. (File/AFP)

Palestine

Corona cases, deaths and recovered are distributed as follows:

-142,228 corona confirmed cases

-122,976 recovered

-1,490 deaths

  • According to Minister of Health Mai Alkaila, the current wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Palestine will reach its peak towards the end of upcoming February.

 



Beds and oxygen cylinders are seen at a newly-established emergency hospital for COVID-19 patients in the Faiha sports stadium north of Damascus, capital of Syria, on Dec. 16, 2020. Photo credit: xinhuanet.com

Beds and oxygen cylinders are seen at a newly-established emergency hospital for COVID-19 patients in the Faiha sports stadium north of Damascus, capital of Syria, on Dec. 16, 2020. Photo credit: xinhuanet.com

Syria

Corona cases, deaths and recovered are distributed as follows:

-11,799 corona confirmed cases

-5,615 recovered

-734 deaths

 

  • Due to the increasing number of covid-19 cases in Syria, Syrian health authorities have activated an emergency hospital in the Faiha sports stadium north of Damascus, capital of Syria, on Dec. 16, 2020.[5]

 

Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades got vaccinated against Covid-19 live on television early on Monday, hours only after the Mediterranean island started its immunization process. Dec 28, 2020, photo credit: Greek city times.

Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades got vaccinated against Covid-19 live on television early on Monday, hours only after the Mediterranean island started its immunization process. Dec 28, 2020, photo credit: Greek city times.

Cyprus

Corona cases, deaths and recovered are distributed as follows:

-24,639 corona confirmed cases

-2,057 recovered

-133 deaths

 

  • Cyprus during December received its first batch of vaccines and started vaccinating people. Even the President received one live on TV.[6]

 

[1] Al-Monitor, https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2020/12/egypt-russia-coronavirus-vaccine-sputnik-manufacture-africa.html

[2] Aawsat, Dec. 22, 2020, https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2696976/jordan-coronavirus-cases-spike-again

[3] Naharnet, Dec. 27, 2020, http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/278041

[4] Arab News, Dec. 27, 2020, https://www.arabnews.com/node/1783516/middle-east

[5] Xinhuanet, Dec. 17, 2020, http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-12/17/c_139595051.htm

[6] Greek City Times, Dec. 28, 2020, https://greekcitytimes.com/2020/12/28/covid-vaccine-rollout-cyprus/

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