Gaza reports 1st case of COVID omicron variant

GAZA CITY, Palestine

Palestinian health authorities confirmed the first case of omicron variant of coronavirus in the Gaza Strip on Sunday.

“A resident of the Gaza Strip was infected with the virus,” Health Ministry official Majdi Dhair told a press conference in Gaza Strip.

He warned that the COVID-19 pandemic is likely to spread across the Palestinian territory.

“The Gaza Strip is expected to face a fourth wave of the pandemic,” the official said, blaming Israeli restrictions for hindering efforts to combat the COVID-19 in the Palestinian territory.

“The Gaza health sector is already dilapidated due to the 15-year Israeli blockade,” he said.

For his part, Bassam al-Hamadeen, the director of maintenance department at the Health Ministry, said Israeli authorities were preventing the entry of medical equipment into Gaza.

"Israel prevents the entry of oxygen stations, mobile and regular x-ray devices, and spare parts for medical devices,” he said.

On Saturday, Palestinian authorities reported five omicron cases in the West Bank, taking the total tally to 23 in the occupied territory.

The World Health Organization on Friday warned that the omicron variant was spreading significantly faster than the delta strain.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar in Ankara