The Palestinian Prisoners Society (PPS) expressed deep concern in a statement issued Monday morning over reports of an ongoing surge in COVID-19 cases among Palestinian detainees in Israeli custody.
25 Palestinian prisoners held in the Israeli Negev prison and six other prisoners in Ofer prison have tested positive for COVID-19 the PPS pointed out.
The rights group also added that Israeli authorities closed Ramon prison amid a surge in COVID-19 cases.
The total number of infections among Palestinian inmates has risen to 388 since April 2021.
Meanwhile the Palestinian Health Ministry warned on Sunday of the spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant in the Gaza Strip.
“We might head toward another Covid-19 wave as new cases of the Omicron variant have been identified” ministry official Majdi Dhair said.
The discovery poses a new challenge to the enclave’s under-developed health system with shortages of medicines and intensive care capacity.
