The Palestinian health ministry has announced the first two cases of COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) in the besieged Gaza Strip.
Deputy health minister Yousef Abul-Reesh told a news conference on Saturday that the two Palestinians had returned from Pakistan through the Rafah border crossing with Egypt on Thursday and were placed in quarantine upon arrival.
They are now in a field hospital in the Rafah border area north of Gaza according to him.
Abul-Reesh urged Gaza’s nearly two million residents to take precautionary measures and to practice social distancing by staying home in a bid to halt the potential spread of the virus.
The Palestinian authorities in Gaza have also ordered the shutdown of restaurants cafes and reception halls. Friday prayers at Mosques have also been suspended until further notice.
