Palestinians in West Bank, Gaza see 1,246 new virus cases in day

Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza saw 1,246 coronavirus cases and 23 deaths over the past 24 hours, according to the Palestinian Authority Health Ministry.

Around 15% of coronavirus tests came back positive in the West Bank over the past 24 hours, in addition to 25% of tests in the Gaza Strip. While both numbers are lower than previous weeks — which saw as many as 45% of tests come back positive in Gaza — they remain drastically high.

Officials in the Ramallah-based PA have repeatedly said that many West Bank Palestinian residents are not complying with the current lockdown regulations, which came into force a week and a half ago.

“The situation is disastrous and getting worse,” PA Health Ministry spokesperson Kamal al-Shakhra told Voice of Palestine Radio on Sunday.

— Aaron Boxerman