Gaza health care system at risk of collapse due to rising COVID-19 cases

Senior officials in the Gaza Strip’s health care system warned Tuesday that the system was at risk of collapse due to the sharp rise in the number of coronavirus patients in serious condition and on ventilators. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, since Monday the number of seriously ill or ventilated patients has gone up by 40 and now stands at 226.

According to Gaza health sources, the hospitals and wards treating coronavirus patients are at 90 percent capacity. The two hospitals that were designated to deal with COVID-19 patients in Khan Yunis and Gaza City are full, and patients are now being sent to other facilities.

A senior official in Gaza’s emergency response team said that until three months ago, they had succeeded in halting the pandemic in Gaza because everyone entering the enclave through the Erez or Rafah crossings had to go into immediate quarantine. But once the virus started to spread, the authorities lost all control.

On Monday and Tuesday a total of 709 new cases were diagnosed, and there are currently 8,723 active cases in the Strip. Eight people died within 24 hours, with the total number of dead as of Tuesday at 210.