Palestine Confirms First Two Cases of Delta Variant of COVID-19

Ramallah, MINA – Palestinian Minister of Health Mai Alkaila confirmed on Sunday the first two cases of the delta variant of COVID-19 for two Palestinian women who have just returned from the United Arab Emirates to the West Bank districts of Salfit and Qalqilia, Wafa reported.

Alkaila said the ministry staff have conducted the necessary medical examinations and are screening direct contacts to quarantine potential carriers of the highly transmissible variant.

She urged all those who have not yet received a vaccine to do so as soon as possible to avoid serious illness and more hospitalizations as a result of the variant, formerly known as the Indian double mutation, which is thought to be more contagious and more able to break through protection from previous infection or vaccination.

The health minister also urged Palestinians to avoid travel abroad unless necessary.

Alkaila said that 86 new cases of COVID-19, one death and 194 recoveries were registered in Palestine during the past 24 hours.

In her daily report on the coronavirus pandemic, Alkaila said one death from COVID-19 was reported in the Gaza Strip, while no deaths were reported in the West Bank, including Jerusalem.

In the Gaza Strip, 73 coronavirus tests came out positive, while the West Bank had only nine new cases. No updates were available regarding the situation in occupied Jerusalem. (T/RE1)

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)