Palestinians adopt new preventive measures over Omicron strain
The Palestinian Authority in the West Bank has adopted new preventive measures to confront the new variant of coronavirus Omicron, officials said on Sunday.
The PA's health ministry will test travellers entering from outside the territories through the Allenby/King Hussein Crossing linking the West Bank with Jordan, Tarek Hawash, director of health of Jericho city, told The New Arab.
Medical teams also conduct about 1,600 swabs every day for travellers over five years of age, to avoid the spread of Omicron in the West Bank, Hawash said.
He added that his ministry sends some samples to private Palestinian laboratories on suspicion of being infected with the Omicron variant amid the absence of testing devices, adding that they have not recorded any Omicron infections yet.
The Palestinian government classified seven African countries, including South Africa, Zambia, Madagascar, Angola, Mozambique, Namibia and Zimbabwe, as red countries.
"Anyone who comes from these countries will be quarantined at their homes for a week at least to combat the new variant," Hawash said.
In Hamas-run Gaza Strip, the local authorities required all the residents wishing to travel through the borders to have received the Covid-19 vaccines.
In a press statement seen by TNA, the General Authority for Crossings and Borders said that "this decision comes within the framework of efforts to combat the virus and to expand the scope of vaccine recipients to achieve immunity and prevention".
None of the local residents will be able to register for travelling, whether electronically or through the registration office, unless they have been vaccinated, the statement said, stressing that the situation is now "serious".