Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Trump reiterates proposal for Russia and Ukraine to stop at current front line, negotiate later
Reuters: Trump says no discussion regarding Ukraine ceding Donbas to Russia
US Vice President JD Vance: There is currently no security infrastructure in place to ensure the disarmament of Hamas
Israeli occupation forces said that "ceasefire in Gaza begins to be re-implemented."
Israeli media: 'Israel' to halt entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza until further notice.
Al Mayadeen correspondent: One woman was killed and several children were injured as a result of Israeli bombing of displaced Gazans' tents in the Mawasi area of ​​Khan Yunis, south of the Gaza Strip.
Al Mayadeen correspondent in Gaza: An Israeli airstrike targeted the eastern areas of Jabalia, north of the Gaza Strip.
Al Mayadeen correspondent in Gaza: An Israeli airstrike targeted Al-Bureij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip.
Al-Qassam Brigades: Communication has been severed with what our remaining fighters (if any are still alive) in Rafah, which is currently under occupation's control.
Al-Qassam Brigades says continues to abide by ceasefire, no knowledge of developments in Rafah.

Amid Israeli siege, Omicron infections surge in West Bank and Gaza

  • By Al Mayadeen net
  • Source: Agencies
  • 4 Feb 2022 11:41
4 Min Read

The PA health ministry recorded 70,000 active infections in the West Bank and Gaza.

  • x
  • Omicron infections surge in West Bank and Gaza
    A covid testing center in Palestine in Ramallah (AP)

On Thursday, the Palestinian Authority's Health Ministry recorded over 70,000 active cases in the West Bank and Gaza as Palestinians are experiencing a rough winter spike in Omicron Covid-19 cases.

The true number of infections may be substantially higher due to the often unnoticeable or mild symptoms attributed to Omicron, particularly in vaccinated individuals.

At least 269 individuals have been hospitalized in PA-controlled areas of the West Bank, including 80 patients in intensive care and 24 on ventilators.

Since the beginning of the outbreak, the PA has recorded nearly 4,859 fatalities in the West Bank and Gaza.

According to the director of health services for Ramallah, Dr. Mahdi Rashed, Palestinian hospitals are nearly 85 percent full. He said, “It’s a dangerous sign and a sign that the worst is yet to come."

According to Dr. AbdelBasit Zeineddin, up to 2,000 patients arrive each day, with around half of them testing positive.

“The numbers are much higher than before,” he said.

Lama Abu Hilou, 22, stated she received both doses of the vaccine, but has shown symptoms recently. She stated she wanted to be tested due to concern about spreading the infection to her extended family who lives in the same building.

Related News

Trump says Hamas leadership not behind death of Israeli troops in Gaza

Israeli occupation forces says two soldiers killed in southern Gaza

“It’s not just one person getting it, you hear about entire families, the mother, the father, the children, all infected,” she said.

The Health Ministry in Gaza, a besieged area that has been ravaged by years of attacks from "Israel", predicts an unprecedented number of cases in the coming weeks.

Dr. Majdi Dhair says the real concern is that infections among health workers multiply and lead to a staff shortage. 

The PA has obtained a supply of vaccinations from the World Health Organization (WHO) program for impoverished countries, and with its limited resources was able to vaccinate only half of the populace. This comes following "Israel's" attempt to send the PA 1 million vaccination shots about to expire, which the Authorities declined.

Last month, the Ministry of Health called on all concerned parties to pressure the Israeli occupation to let diagnostic medical devices, which have been withheld for months, into the Gaza Strip. 

In its statement, the Ministry stressed that the Israeli occupation has been reluctant in introducing special devices to the oxygen generating station and kidney pumps and is preventing the repair of many medical devices in the governmental and non-governmental health sectors, which include MRIs, CT scans, regular rays, and mobile devices, as well as preventing the entry of spare parts needed to repair these necessary devices.

A recent report by Amnesty International described "Israel" as an apartheid regime, stating that the occupation authorities' "laws, policies and practices, which are intended to maintain a cruel system of control over Palestinians, have left them fragmented geographically and politically, frequently impoverished, and in a constant state of fear and insecurity."

More than half the prisoners in 'Ofer' infected with Covid-19

The Palestinian Prisoners Club confirmed Thursday that more than half of the prisoners inside the Israeli "Ofer" prison are infected with the Coronavirus and the sections lack the necessary preventive measures. An estimated 1,000 prisoners are in "Ofer" Prison, divided into 12 sections.

The Club clarified that the virus is spreading in all sections and that the occupation prisons administration worked to turn the epidemic into a tool of abuse by establishing several exceptional measures and depriving prisoners of their rights under the pretext of curbing the spread of the epidemic.

Read more: The Policy of Neglect; Behind the Walls of the Occupation Prisons

  • Palestine
  • Israel
  • Israeli occupation

Most Read

Iran strikes secret Israeli-US bunker under Tel Aviv high-rise

Tel Aviv high-rise struck by Iran hid Site 81, secret US-Israeli base

  • Politics
  • 14 Oct 2025
drop site

New report details extensive Israeli arson in Gaza after ceasefire

  • Politics
  • 13 Oct 2025
Illustration of fists breaking shackles, representing the liberation of Palestinian detainees from Israeli prisons. (Illustrated by: AL Mayadeen English/Batoul Chamas)

4 prominent Palestinian detainees to be freed: Who are they?

  • Palestine
  • 13 Oct 2025
2K Palestinian detainees freed, defy occupation with mass welcome

2K Palestinian detainees freed, defy occupation with mass welcome

  • Politics
  • 13 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Russian banks begin accepting Iranian LCs to boost bilateral trade
Economy

Russian banks begin accepting Iranian LCs to boost bilateral trade

IOF admit to the killing of two soldiers in Gaza
Politics

Israeli occupation forces says two soldiers killed in southern Gaza

President Donald Trump attends a lunch with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Cabinet Room of the White House, Friday, Oct. 17, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Politics

Trump: No Gaza troops, no more arms to Ukraine, tariffs on China

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi speaks in a meeting with ambassadors and representatives of foreign countries in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
Politics

Iran-China-Russia alliance to counter EU snapback move: Tehran

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS