The Ministry of Health in Gaza (MOH) announced on Thursday the operational materials needed to run one of Gaza’s COVID-19 testing devices have run out. As a result, Gaza’s central laboratory is currently operating at half capacity, which drastically undermines the MOH’s efforts to contain and track COVID-19.

"The decline in the ability of the central laboratory to examine the Covid 19 virus will affect the efforts of following the suspected cases in the community," said the MOH.

The shortage of medicines and medical supplies endangers the lives of thousands of patients and disrupts the provision of medical services for at least 2 million Palestinians who live in poor living conditions in the Gaza Strip, which is classified as the most overpopulated area in the whole world.

The MOH called upon the international community and humanitarian organizations to provide aid to the health system in the Gaza Strip, including medical supplies to Gaza Hospitals, in order to combat the spread of coronavirus.