The Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip is increasing its warnings of a new coronavirus wave in the coastal enclave, as nurses and doctors voice concerns over the arrival of the Delta variant that could lead to a wider spread of cases, thus imposing further psychological pressure on doctors amid the fragile health system due to the ongoing Israeli siege since 2007.

Medhat Abbas, director of primary care at the Ministry of Health in Gaza, told Al-Monitor that his ministry expects a strong third coronavirus wave in Gaza, saying, “If a Delta variant wave kicks in across the Gaza Strip, it will be harsh given the lack of safety measures and the severe overcrowding, which are set to lead to the rapid spread of the virus.”

He noted, “The medical staff have managed to overcome the first and second waves despite their difficulty. As for the new wave, it will require more advanced equipment amid shortages due to the siege that has been ongoing for 15 years now. We dealt with severe waves that exceeded 1,500 cases per day, and we hope that no such scenario will ever unfold again because of the lack of medical equipment."

The adviser to the minister of health in Gaza, Fathi Abu Warda, said during an Aug. 1 press conference that the ministry “is anticipating and concerned about the possibility of a new wave of the coronavirus in Gaza, which is home to about 2 million people.”