Blockaded Gaza free of coronavirus, but stepping up precautions

While some in Gaza advocate closing border crossings with Israel and Egypt entirely to stave off infection, others voice concern about deepening economic hardship in the territory
Reuters|
The Gaza Strip has remained free of the coronavirus, but authorities are taking precautions, closing schools after a state of emergency was declared last week.
  • Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter
  • Health officials have urged all returning travelers to go into home quarantine for 14 days and Gazans have been stockpiling sterilizers and other cleaning materials.
    2 View gallery
     מנסים בעזה למנוע את התפשטות וירוס הקורונה
     מנסים בעזה למנוע את התפשטות וירוס הקורונה
    Precautions against the coronavirus in Gaza
    (Photo: TPS)
    While some in Gaza advocate closing border crossings with Israel and Egypt entirely to stave off infection, others voiced concern about deepening economic hardship in the territory, where unemployment hovers around 50 percent.
    "I don't support closing the crossings. People have businesses they need to tend to," said 26-year-old Shahima al-Sourani on going back into Gaza from the southern Rafah border crossing with Egypt, where 55 cases of coronavirus, including one death, have been reported.
    2 View gallery
     מנסים בעזה למנוע את התפשטות וירוס הקורונה
     מנסים בעזה למנוע את התפשטות וירוס הקורונה
    Precautions against the coronavirus in Gaza
    (Photo: TPS)
    Concerns are also high in Gaza that if the coronavirus strikes, its hospitals, suffering from a chronic lack of equipment, will struggle to deal with the spread of the illness.
    The coronavirus spread hasn't skipped Israel, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Monday that all arrivals from abroad must self-quarantine for 14 days.
    Comments
    The commenter agrees to the privacy policy of Ynet News and agrees not to submit comments that violate the terms of use, including incitement, libel and expressions that exceed the accepted norms of freedom of speech.
    ""