Palestine fears 4th wave of COVID-19 amid rising infections

RAMALLAH, Palestine

The Palestinian Health Ministry warned Wednesday that the epidemiological situation in Palestine was worsening, amid fears of a 4th wave of COVID-19 pandemic.

In a statement, ministry official Naji Nazzal said there was an increase in the number of patients who need hospitalization due to the outbreak.

"While a drop was recorded in the number of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in the last period, the situation is now getting worse after the detection of Delta variant cases," Nazzal said.

The official said the ministry has made the necessary preparations to deal with a surge in virus infections, going on to call on the Palestinians to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

Palestinian health authorities registered 895 new infections in the West Bank and Gaza Strip in the last 24 hours.

The Palestinian tally reached 351,000 infections, including 3,893 deaths, according to Health Ministry figures.

Writing by Ahmed Asmar in Ankara