Covid cases rising sharply in West Bank, Gaza: Palestinian health ministry

The Palestinian territories saw a steep rise in coronavirus cases, hospitalisations and deaths at the start of this week, according to the Palestinian Authority's ministry of health.

The ministry on Tuesday recorded thousands of new cases across the occupied West Bank and besieged Gaza Strip over a 24 hour period, the official Palestinian news agency Wafa reported.

The West Bank recorded 6067 new Covid-19 cases, with 2400 new cases in East Jerusalem. Four died of the illness, including a two-month-old baby from town of Idna near Hebron.

The ministry said 1,213 recoveries in the occupied West Bank were recorded and 1,764 in East Jerusalem.

The Gaza Strip reported 2549 new cases, 1000 recoveries and eight deaths.

Currently, 173 Covid-19 patients are hospitalised with 82 being in intensive care, including 25 who are on ventilators.