- Title: In crowded Gaza, public embraces mask-wearing to fight COVID-19
- Date: 1st October 2020
- Summary: GAZA CITY, GAZA (SEPTEMBER 29, 2020) (REUTERS) VIEW FROM A CAR OF HAMAS SECURITY DRIVING THROUGH GAZA CITY DURING NIGHT-TIME CURFEW, CALLING ON PEOPLE TO STAY HOME LINED UP HAMAS POLICE FORCE PREPARING FOR NIGHT MISSION, WEARING MASKS OFFICER IN MASK BRIEFING POLICEMEN POLICEMAN IN MASK TALKING TO DRIVER VARIOUS OF POLICEMEN WEARING MASKS WALKING AND DRIVING THROUGH STREET VARIOUS OF POLICE UNITS PATROLLING STREETS, CALLING ON PEOPLE TO STAY HOME SIGN OF HAMAS' INTERIOR MINISTRY (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) HAMAS INTERIOR MINISTRY SPOKESMAN, EYAD AL-BOZOM, SAYING: "We are taking the needed measures against whoever breaks the instructions of safety and protection in the Gaza Strip. We detain the shop owners or owner of any facility who break the instructions as well as the residents who break the curfew order or if they don't obey to the safety instructions." GAZA CITY, GAZA (RECENT) (REUTERS) VARIOUS TOP SHOTS OF GAZA ROOFTOPS VARIOUS OF MEMBER OF MEDICAL TEAM WORKING ON COMPUTER IN MEDICAL FACILITY MEMBER OF MEDICAL TEAM CHECKING THE TEMPERATURE OF A WOMAN CARRYING A BABY MEMBER OF MEDICAL TEAM SANITISING HER GLOVES RAFAH, GAZA (RECENT) (REUTERS) HAMAS' POLICE SEATED IN A PICK UP VAN, WEARING MASKS VEHICLE CARRYING HAMAS FORCE DRIVING AWAY GAZA CITY, GAZA (RECENT) (REUTERS) MOBILE CLINIC DRIVING THROUGH STREET
- Embargoed: 15th October 2020 09:39
- Keywords: COVID-19 Gaza Strip Palestinians coronavirus masks
- Location: GAZA CITY AND RAFAH, GAZA
- City: GAZA CITY AND RAFAH, GAZA
- Country: Palestinian Territories
- Topics: Health/Medicine,Middle East
- Reuters ID: LVA001CYAR0AV
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Five weeks into a general outbreak of coronavirus in the densely populated and physically sealed-off Gaza Strip, have further worsened people's lives, and exhausted businesses.
A curfew is observed every night, while restrictions across the territory varied depending on the rates of infection.
Twenty people have died, and nearly 3,000 others were infected since August 24, when the first cases of a general outbreak, had been confirmed, among the two million population.
Restaurants, schools, mosques, and other public facilities are closed. Security forces, loyal to the ruling Islamist group Hamas, banned closed beaches and halted mass wedding parties, funerals and rallies.
Barricades and sand barriers blocked entrances to some districts, and policemen, at checkpoints, inspected vehicles to ensure they carry few passengers, whom along with drivers must wear face masks.
Eyad Al-Bozom, spokesman of Gaza interior ministry, said they took legal measures, that included closing stores, brief detentions, and paying fines, against people who violated health precautionary measures and curfew orders.
Struggling to keep services going, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which provides around two thirds of the population with education, health and food services, began delivering food to needy families at their homes, not at distribution centers.
Medical teams of UNRWA and of other relief agencies have carried home visits to patients and offered medication. Street random tests were under way.
International health officials warned a pandemic outbreak in Gaza, was potentially disastrous, given the under-developed health system, which suffers acute shortage in medical supplies.
For some, restrictions were exhausting, to others, such as willing brides and grooms, it was a blessing. It saved them expensive cost of wedding parties and feasts as processions are being done quietly.
(Production: Abed Shana, Mohammed Shana, Ibraheem Abu Mustafa, Suhiab Salem) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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