RAMALLAH, Saturday, November 14, 2020 (WAFA) – The number of actual COVID-19 cases in Palestine is three times the numbers that are being announced, today revealed the Palestinian Minister of Health Mai Alkaila.

She also said that the anti-corona vaccine being developed by Pfizer will be obtained by Palestine, pending approval by the World Health Organization, through the COVAX Facility that provides vaccines to low-income countries, such as Palestine, which is a member of this organization and has a representative in it.

Alkaila told Voice of Palestine radio that the corona infection is widespread and high in Palestine, especially in the Nablus and Salfit governorates in the West Bank, and that the numbers are much higher than what is being announced every day, warning that Palestine is on its way to a more difficult period if the situation continues as it is.

Palestine currently conducts around 4000 tests every day, way less than previous times, mainly due to a shortage of testing kits and swaps.

Alkaila said that her ministry is working on finding solutions to the existing problems in dealing with the pandemic, such as turning some hospitals into corona facilities, equipping them with beds, and training medical staff in dealing with the corona disease and patients.

She also revealed that there is a delay in the arrival of the seasonal flu vaccine in Palestine due to the manufacturer's request to stop using the vaccine after discovering some faults in the production after its arrival at the regional distribution center.

The Health Ministry had plans to inoculate the medically vulnerable Palestinian population with the flu vaccine before the arrival of the winter season in order to reduce the risk of people contracting the coronavirus disease.

M.K.