The Middle East is at a “critical threshold” in the outbreak as countries in the region have begun to ease their blockades and the pandemic is accelerating, according to Dr. Ahmed Al-Mandhari, regional director for the Eastern Mediterranean Region. of the World Health Organization.
“The number of cases reported in June alone is greater than the total number of cases reported during the four months after the first case reported in the Region on January 29,” Al-Mandhari said in a statement on Wednesday.
Al-Mandhari said three countries, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, account for more than 50% of the total reported cases in the region, with an increasing number of cases reported by Iraq, Libya, Morocco, the Palestinian Authority and Oman.
Most deaths in just five countries: Almost 87% of all reported deaths are from five countries: Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Pakistan, he said.
“As public spaces begin to open, there is a real risk that we will continue to see an increase in cases, even in countries where the situation now appears to be stabilizing,” he said.
“We are at a critical threshold in our region. Reducing blockages does not mean reducing the response or reducing social responsibilities.
“Governments must aggressively scale up proven public health measures that we know control the spread of the virus (detection, testing, isolation, treatment, and contact tracing) now more than ever. As airports and border crossings gradually open , governments should continue to apply precautionary measures improving surveillance at entry points, “he added.
The virus is supposed to be widespread in Syria and Yemen: Al-Mandhari added that while fewer cases are reported from countries facing “complex emergencies” such as Syria and Yemen, the WHO is “working under the assumption that the virus is widespread and concerned about the capacity of its system weakened health to detect and control its spread. “
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