The Hamas-run Health Ministry in the Gaza Strip warned late on Monday that the territory is seeing a rapid spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 that could overwhelm health services there.
“There are deep concerns and fear that the Gaza Strip will witness in the coming weeks a strong and uncontrolled wave of Omicron variant,’’ Health Ministry official, Majdi Dhair, told reporters.
He said several cases recently identified “weren’t among returning travellers from abroad,’’ which means that Omicron is already spreading in communities, and there are possible cases that the ministry doesn’t know about.
“We have a fear that we’re facing a rapid spread of the disease that will also be very violent and increase the number of patients needing urgent medical care,’’ Dhair said, adding that the ministry in Gaza “can’t deal with it’’.
On Sunday, Dhair urged the international community to pressure Israel to let more medical equipment into the Gaza Strip, including ventilators and oxygen.
Israel has had a blockade of the Gaza Strip in place since 2007, arguing that many items can’t be shipped there because they could be turned into weapon.
Israel, the EU and the U.S. all view Hamas, which is in de facto control in Gaza, as a terrorist organization.
WAFA, the Palestinian news agency, reported 476 new Omicron infections on Tuesday, up from 291 the previous day.
But most of those were reported in the West Bank, which is ruled separately from Gaza. (dpa/NAN)
