Jordan and Morocco reveal Covid-19 jab plans

15 December 2020
Wider Mena nations join GCC neighbours in planning vaccination drives as regional infections persist

The number of Covid-19 cases in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region crossed 3,889,699 on 15 December, according to Worldometers data collated by MEED.

Countries in the GCC comprise 27 per cent (1,049,611) of all regional cases, while Iran's 1,115,770 cases make up 28.7 per cent of the Mena total.

Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Yemen and Syria together make up the remaining 44.3 per cent (1,724,318) of Mena cases.

Countries in the wider Mena region are joining their GCC neighbours in stepping up vaccination efforts.

On 14 December, Jordan's Food & Drug Administration said it had granted an emergency licence to Pfizer, helping the country meet 5 per cent of its citizens' vaccination needs.

Pfizer's batch of inoculations is expected in Jordan by February. A study is under way to also allow the use of two other vaccines.

Jordan plans to inoculate at least 20 per cent of its citizens. To date, it has reported 262,477 cases of Covid-19, with 222,654 recoveries and 3,407 deaths.

Morocco is also establishing the infrastructure required to begin its inoculation drive.

On 14 December, Rabat's state news agency said the Directorate of Health had mobilised 435 vaccination stations, 790 mobile vaccination units and 459 teams as part of the planned inoculation drive in the Marrakech-Safi region. 

So far, Morocco has confirmed 400,826 cases of Covid-19, with 359,065 recoveries and 6,659 deaths.

Covid-19 in the Mena region:

(15 December 2020)

COUNTRYLATEST UPDATES

Saudi Arabia               

Covid-19 pandemic latest:

  • Total confirmed cases: 360,013
  • Recoveries: 350,792
  • Deaths: 6,059

Actions to slow the spread of Covid-19:

  • 10 December: Saudi Food & Drug Authority (SFDA) says it has approved the registration of Pfizer-BioNTech's Covid-19 vaccine in the kingdom. The approval was based on the data provided by Pfizer on 24 November.
  • 7 December: The first group of Umrah performers from outside the country have arrived in Madina, including 135 visitors from Indonesia. The visitors have been quarantined for three days and their entry will be managed using the 'Eatmarna' Umrah mobile app.
  • 6 December: The Assistant Health Minister and official spokesperson of the Saudi Health Ministry, Muhammad al-Abdulaali, has stated that Saudi Arabia has "signed very important contracts with companies developing the coronavirus vaccine", adding that the registration mechanism for taking the vaccine will be announced soon.

 Measures to minimise the economic crisis:   

  • 2 December: Saudi Arabia's Interior Ministry said it will soon announce a date for the lifting of restrictions on citizens travelling to and from the country.
  • 29 November: Central Bank of Saudi Arabia has extended its deferred payments programme until the end of the first quarter of 2021, supporting pirvate sector financing.
  • 19 November: Saudi Arabia will review its increased rate of VAT after the pandemic ends, acting Media Minister Majid al-Qasabi reportedly said. He added that the decision to triple VAT earlier this year was a “painful” one and that consumer protection would remain a priority for the kingdom.
As of 14.00 GST, 15 December 2020. Click here for Covid-19 updates in Mena during November 2020.
UAE

Covid-19 pandemic latest:

  • Total confirmed cases: 186,041
  • Recoveries: 164,349
  • Deaths: 618

Actions to slow the spread of Covid-19:

  • 14 December: UAE launches vaccination drive in Abu Dhabi after approving the drug developed by China National Pharmaceutical Group (Sinopharm). It is among the world's first countries to begin widespread inoculation. Residents in the capital can book appointments through the Abu Dhabi Health Services (Seha) hotline. 
  • 9 December: The UAE's Health & Prevention Ministry has said that the experimental coronavirus vaccine developed by Sinopharm has 86 per cent efficacy. The interim analysis comes from the phase three clinical trials that were started in July for the vaccine developed by the Beijing Institute of Biological Product, a unit of Sinopharm’s China National Biotec Group (CNBG). The analysis also shows the vaccine to have 99 per cent seroconversion rate of neutralising antibody and 100 per cent effectiveness in preventing moderate and severe cases of the disease.
  • 7 December: Abu Dhabi Department of Health has launched the volunteer programme for the phase three clinical trials of the Russian human adenovirus-based vaccine. The programme is being conducted under the "Vaccine for Victory" campaign for Abu Dhabi citizens and residents, who can register at www.v4v.ae by supplying their contact details and basic medical information.
    The phase three clinical trials taking place in the UAE form part of the trials that are taking place in Russia and elsewhere. The vaccine was developed by the Gamaleya National Research Institute of Epidemiology & Microbiology of the Health Ministry of the Russian Federation. The vaccine is being tested on healthy adults from multiple nationalities aged over 18 years, who are living in Abu Dhabi, have not previously been infected with Covid-19, have not participated in any other Covid-19 vaccination trials and have not suffered any communicable or severe respiratory diseases for at least 14 days. Volunteers will receive two doses of the vaccine, administered 20 days apart, and will be monitored through regular visits and tele-consultations for 180 days after taking the vaccine.
  • 6 December: Passengers flying in from GCC countries to Dubai will not require a Covid-19 negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test prior to departure. They will be tested on arrival at Dubai Airports.
  • 5 December: Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (Seha) has announced that the price of a Covid-19 PCR test is now slashed to AED85. Seha previously reduced the cost of the test from AED370 to AED250 in September.
  • 24 November: Etihad Airways partners with information technology company Sita to trial the use of facial biometrics for cabin crew at the airline's crew briefing centre at Abu Dhabi International airport.

Measures to minimise the economic crisis:   

  • 12 December: Committee responsible for the coordination and follow up of the implementation of the economic recovery plan holds second meeting, under the chairmanship of Abdulla Bin Touq al-Marri, Economy Minister. The committee reviewed the progress in implementing the 15 initiatives of the first phase, revealing that 46 per cent of their implementation has been completed so far. Major initiatives implemented to date include amendments to the bankruptcy law, allocation of grants and incentives to tourism establishments, promotion of foreign direct investment (FDI) through amendments to the commercial companies law, amendments to the commercial transactions law and the decriminalisation of cheques without balance, as well as a reduction of fees and taxes on the tourism sector, enhancing the flexibility of the labour market, and the targeted economic support plan directed by the Central Bank to enhance liquidity in the financial and banking sector.
  • 10 December: Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum approves new remote working protocols for Dubai government employees, as part of which employees can perform their duties from outside their offices, using remote working technologies. The new protocols aim to provide flexible working models that align with both government objectives and global best practices.
  • 9 December: Abu Dhabi Emergency Crisis & Disasters Committee has announced that it has begun working with concerned authorities to resume all economic, tourism, cultural and entertainment activities in the emirate in two weeks.
As of 14.00 GST, 15 December 2020. Click here for Covid-19 updates in Mena during November 2020.
Bahrain

Covid-19 pandemic latest:

  • Total confirmed cases: 89,268
  • Recoveries: 87,332
  • Deaths: 348

Actions to slow the spread of Covid-19:

  • 13 December: National Health Regulatory Authority says it has approved the registration of Sinopharm’s Covid-19 vaccine after the submission of all documentation by G42 Healthcare, the company’s exclusive distributor in the Mena region. Health Ministry launches online registration for vaccination drive. 
  • 10 December: Prince Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chairs government executive committee meeting. Plans and preparations to provide a Covid-19 vaccine, free of charge, across 27 medical centres, were discussed. These plans include vaccinating those over the age of 18, with a capacity of vaccinating 5,000 individuals a day, and working to expand this programme to reach 10,000 vaccinations a day. 
  • 6 December: Mosques across Bahrain have been re-opened for afternoon prayers. Mosques will now open for dawn, noon and afternoon prayers, however no announcements have been made on the sunset and evening prayers.
  • 4 December: Bahrain becomes the second country in the world, after the UK, to grant emergency-use authorisation (EUA) for the Covid-19 vaccine made by Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech.

Measures to minimise the economic crisis:  

  • 22 November: Information & eGovernment Authority announces a new service to the BeAware Bahrain app that allows users to upload photos of their Covid-19 rapid antigen test results to the app and submit them to relevant authorities at the Health Ministry. The use of the service is mandatory for all positive cases in order to ensure that they receive the necessary help, to examine the accuracy of the test, assess their symptoms and to set a date for a nasal swab PCR test. The service is optional for cases with negative results.
  • 10 November: Infectious diseases consultant and microbiologist at the BDF Hospital, Manaf al-Qahtani, says Bahrain placed an order in August to purchase more than 1 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccines being developed by Pfizer-BioNTech, AstraZeneca and Sinopharm. 
As of 14.00 GST, 15 December 2020. Click here for Covid-19 updates in Mena during November 2020.
Kuwait

Covid-19 pandemic latest:

  • Total confirmed cases: 146,449
  • Recoveries: 142,357
  • Deaths: 912

Actions to slow the spread of Covid-19:

  • 13 December: Health Ministry authorises emergency use of Pfizer-BioNTech's Covid-19 vaccine. 
  • 10 December: Kuwait launches online registration programme for individuals seeking vaccines.
  • 7 December: To facilitate a smooth return for the 80,000 domestic workers expected to fly back to Kuwait over the next few months, National Aviation Services has launched an online platform, BelSalamah.com, to allow sponsors to book flights and organiser a PCR test for their domestic workers online.
  • 5 December: Kuwait's Health Minister, Basel al-Sabah, emphasised the importance of keeping up health procedures amid Kuwait's parliamentary elections. The voter turnout was higher than expected, with larger crowds expected at schools designated as polling stations. Covid-positive patients were also allowed to vote at dedicated polling stations, with the option to vote via an online app.
  • 1 December: Kuwait's Health Ministry authorises the drug Bamlanivimab for emergency use to treat mild to moderate cases of Covid-19 in adults and children over 12 years of age. Kuwait is the third country in the world after the US and Cananda to authorise the drug.

Measures to minimise the economic crisis: 

  • 1 December: Kuwait's Civil Aviation Authority (DCGA) announces that the return of foreign domestic workers will begin on 7 December, with plans for 14-day mandatory quarantine for the expected 80,000 individuals put in place. Nearly 6,000 people will enter Kuwait each day within a four-month timeframe, beginning with workers from India and Philippines. 
  • 24 November: Health Ministry says the BNT162 Covid-19 vaccine will reach Kuwait by the end of this year, and usage will be subject to approval of local regulatory authorities. Assistant undersecretary for medicines and medical supplies, Abdullah al-Bader, said an agreement has been reached with Pfizer and BioNTech, which developed the vaccine, to supply the vaccine to Kuwait.
As of 14.00 GST, 15 December 2020. Click here for Covid-19 updates in Mena during November 2020.
Oman

Covid-19 pandemic latest:

  • Total confirmed cases: 126,719
  • Recoveries: 118,505
  • Deaths: 1,475

Actions to slow the spread of Covid-19:

  • 14 December: Advisor to the Public Health Minister for Sports & Emergency Affairs, Abdul Wahab al-Musleh, says the first batch of the Covid-19 vaccine will arrive in Qatar before end-2020. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine will be prioritised for the elderly, frontline workers and individuals with chronic illnesses. 
  • 10 December: Ahmed bin Mohammed al-Saeedi, Health Minister, says the first consignment of Covid-19 vaccine will reach Oman before the end of this year.
  • 6 December: The Supreme Committee has announced that tourist visas will now be issued, provided that "the arrival of tourists is within the framework of tourist groups organised by hotels and tourism companies”. Visitors will have to provide two negative PCR tests, one carried out no more than 90 hours prior to departure and the second conducted at the airport on arrival. Visitors will also have to remain in quarantine for seven days, unless their stay is for less than a week, and quarantine for seven days once they return to the original destination.
  • 2 December: According to the Times of Oman, the sultanate has entered into an agreement with Pfizer and the Vaccine Alliance (Gavi) for the supply of vaccines to cover almost 20 per cent of the country's needs, towards the end of 2020. 

Measures to minimise the economic crisis: 

  • 2 December: Oman's Supreme Committee Tasked with Covid-19 allows reopening of cinemas, parks, beach and tourist attractions, while increasing operational capacity of salons and gyms. Other places, such as exhibitions halls, food courts and nurseries, have also been allowed to reopen.
  • 10 November: Labour Ministry says expatriate workers wishing to leave Oman and return to their home country are allowed to do so from 15 November. The ministry also exempted all employers and expatriate workers from fees and fines registered against licences for practicing professions by expatriate workers, provided they leave the sultanate between 15 November and 31 December. This is in line with the decisions of the Supreme Committee tasked with tackling developments resulting from Covid-19, the Labour Ministry said.
As of 14.00 GST, 15 December 2020. Click here for Covid-19 updates in Mena during November 2020.
Qatar

Covid-19 pandemic latest:

  • Total confirmed cases: 141,121
  • Recoveries: 138,719
  • Deaths: 241

Actions to slow the spread of Covid-19:

  • 19 November: 2020 FIFA Club World Cup, due to be held in Qatar in December, is rescheduled to 1-11 February 2021. 
  • 21 October: Chairman of National Strategic Group on Covid-19 and head of Hamad Medical Corporation's infectious diseases division, Abdullatif al-Khal, says schools will be closed for two weeks if three Covid-19 cases are detected in the same class, or if 5 per cent of students or staff are infected. The number of cases among school students is less than 1 per cent of the total national tally, he said, adding: "Epidemiologists in Qatar do not expect a new wave but the picture will become clear about the possibility of a new wave of the virus during the next four or eight weeks."

Measures to minimise the economic crisis: 

  • 8 December: Qatar and India announce decision to set up a joint special task force to facilitate investments by the Qatar Investment Authority into India, especially in the energy value chain in India, as a way to counter the economic impact of Covid-19.
  • 7 December: Beginning from 14 December, Qatar Airways Cargo will utilise passenger Boeing 777-300s to transport seafood from Norway to Doha, which will susbequently be shipped to destinations in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.
  • 11 November: Administrative Development, Labour & Social Affairs Ministry to resume process of issuing labour recruitment from 15 November after a temporary suspenion due to Covid-19. The entry of new recruits will continue according to the travel and return policy of Qatar specified by the Supreme Committee for Crisis Management.
  • 10 November: Pfizer-BioNTech's vaccine, if approved, could reach Qatar in the coming months. Chair of the National Health Strategic Group and head of infectious diseases at Hamad Medical Corporation, Abdullatif al-Khal, said: "We have been working with Pfizer and BioNTech since the summer and they are confident that if their vaccine gets the necessary regulatory approval, Qatar will be able to receive an initial quantity of vaccines by the end of this year, or very early in 2021.”
As of 14.00 GST, 15 December 2020. Click here for Covid-19 updates in Mena during November 2020.
Iran

Covid-19 pandemic latest:

  • Total confirmed cases: 1,115,770
  • Recoveries: 823,231
  • Deaths: 52,447

Actions to slow the spread of Covid-19:

  • 8 December: State agency Irna reports the governor of Iran's central bank saying that the "inhumane sactions" imposed by the US have blocked Iran's purchased of Covid-19 vaccines. 
    “Because the purchase of the Covid-19 vaccine has to be done through the official channels of the World Health Organisation (WHO), all the paths to pay and transfer the required currency have so far been blocked by the inhumane embargoes of the US government and the need to obtain an Office of Foreign Assets Control licence,” Abdolnaser Hemmati wrote on social media.
  • 21 November: Fresh curbs imposed but Tehran streets “crowded despite the restrictions”, state TV said in the morning. Some non-essential businesses were open, but the state channel later reportedly showed mostly empty streets and shuttered shops. Reuters reported that President Hassan Rouhani said the two-week restrictions could be extended if the desired results were not achieved.
  • 16 November: Rouhani instructs authorities to "clearly and accurately" communicate newly planned curbs for 'red', 'yellow' and 'orange' risk zones by 18 November, three days before the restrictions take effect. 
  • 15 November: Rouhani declares “the general mobilisation of the nation and the government” to combat the third wave of Covid-19 in the country, adding: “I call on all governmental organisations and other forces and institutions to rush to the aid of the Health Ministry and health workers with all possible means."

Measures to minimise the economic crisis: 

  • 28 November: President Hassan Rouhani addresses efforts by the Health Ministry to develop a Covid-19 vaccine locally and buy foreign vaccines, adding: "The Central Bank is obliged to provide money for the development of vaccine inside the country and purchase from abroad at the request of the Health Ministry to get the vaccine at the right time."
As of 14.00 GST, 15 December 2020. Click here for Covid-19 updates in Mena during November 2020.
Egypt

Covid-19 pandemic latest:

  • Total confirmed cases: 122,086
  • Recoveries: 105,132
  • Deaths: 6,943

Actions to slow the spread of Covid-19:

  • 13 December: Health Ministry says an agreement with Sinopharm has been completed and legislative approvals have been obtained, with a group of experts from the WHO arriving in Egypt. A ministry statement reportedly added: "We are in the phase of negotiation with the Chinese company to start manufacturing."
  • 11 December: Health Minister, Hala Zayed, says Egypt will receive batches of Sinopharm’s coronavirus vaccine in succession and will provide the doses to citizens free of charge, based on the directives of President Abdel Fatah el-Sisi.
  • 8 December: Zayed announced in a cabinet meeting that Egypt has submitted an application form to obtain Covid-19 vaccines from Covax, the initiative led by Gavi.
  • 6 December: The Coptic Orthodox Church in Egypt has suspended Sunday schools, meetings and mass services for a month to fight the spread of the coronavirus.
  • 2 December: Egypt's Cabinet authorised the finance and health ministers to take the necessary measures to build Egypt’s stock of Covid-19 vaccine, approving the drawing up of contracts with the Gavi to ensure that Egypt will obtain 20 million doses of vaccines. The Cabinet also directed that contracts and deals be made with several other companies to secure more doses.

Measures to minimise the economic crisis: 

  • 12 December: Health Minister, Hala Zayed, says a new production line in Vacsera's factories will be dedicated to produce Sinopharm's vaccine in Egypt, in addition to ongoing negotiations with the company producing the vaccine to manufacture it inside the country.
  • 29 November: Egyptian Finance Minister, Mohamed Maait, said the country was reaching positive growth rates, estimating that economic growth in the fiscal year 2021-22 would reach 2.8-4 per cent.
As of 14.00 GST, 15 December 2020. Click here for Covid-19 updates in Mena during November 2020.
Iraq

Covid-19 pandemic latest:

  • Total confirmed cases: 575,972
  • Recoveries: 509,474
  • Deaths: 12,603

Actions to slow the spread of Covid-19:

  • 20 November: Health Ministry calls on citizens to abide by protective measures against Covid-19, such as wearing masks and maintaining social distancing, adding: "The health teams noticed that there is a great negligence by citizens of health-protective measures such as not wearing masks and holding weddings and condolences with dense gatherings."
  • 25 September: Flights to Iran will be suspended for 15 days over coronavirus concerns. The decision includes "all direct flights from local airports to the airports of the Islamic Republic of Iran, after the announcement of detecting coronavirus cases in some Iranian areas", authorities said.
  • 5 September: Health Ministry warns it may "lose control" of the pandemic if people do not comply with precautionary measures. 

Measures to minimise the economic crisis: 

  • 11 November: Cabinet says public sector salaries will be paid after the parliament approves the draft fiscal deficit law this week. 
  • 8 November: Higher Committee for Health & National Safety, under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, agrees to start new academic year from 29 November, and authorises the payment required for purchasing the first batch of the coronavirus vaccine from the Global Alliance for Vaccines & Immunisation (Gavi).
As of 14.00 GST, 15 December 2020. Click here for Covid-19 updates in Mena during November 2020.
Jordan

Covid-19 pandemic latest:

  • Total confirmed cases: 262,477
  • Recoveries: 222,654
  • Deaths: 3,407

Actions to slow the spread of Covid-19:

  • 14 December: Jordan's Food & Drug Administration says it has granted an emergency license to Pfizer, helping the country meet 5 per cent of its citizens' vaccination needs. Pfizer's batch of vaccines is expected in Jordan by February. A study is under way to also allow the use of two other vaccines. Jordan plans to inoculate at least 20 per cent of its citizens. 
  • 8 December: State Media Affairs Minister, Ali al-Ayed, has said that preventive measures including a blanket curfew on Fridays will remain in place until the end of 2020, and that Jordan will "bypass the coronavirus crisis through concerted national efforts".
  • 7 December: The first military field hospital for Covid-19 patients opens at Prince Hashem Hospital in Zarqa, equipped with equipment to treat Covid-positive patients. Two similar field hospitals will be opened during the coming weeks to boost the capability to address the pandemic, bringing the total capacity of the three field hospitals to 900 beds, of which 220 are for intensive care.
    Health Minister, Nazir Obeidat, says that the "epidemiological situation in Jordan has been stable for two weeks" and is heading towards decreasing as the number of new Covid-19 infections are declining. He indicated that Jordan has signed contracts with a number of international companies to secure a vaccine that is expected to arrive in the first quarter of 2021, emphasising that Jordan will only accept safe and effective vaccines.

Measures to minimise the economic crisis: 

  • 13 December: Labour Minister, Ma'an Qatamin, says the ministry will work to list the construction contracting sector as a business battered by the Covid-19 pandemic. The delay in paying contractors' dues and the absence of new bids for 2021 will contribute to weakening the sector. 
  • 6 December: The cabinet has approved the inclusion of tourist guides under the Central Bank of Jordan (CBJ)'s programme to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through the pandemic.
    Through the programme, loans will be granted to tourist guides at a value of JD5,000 each, similar to the lending terms applied on the rest of the tourism sector. Loans will disbursed in the form of payments as salary allowances to tourist guides.
  • 3 December: Jordanian Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh announces a series of measures to alleviate the economic situation in Jordan, including: 
    • The allocation of JD320m to expand social protection for families and individuals. The government will help fund some sectors to protect nearly 180,000 jobs at about 20,000 private sector institutions;
    • The launch of a Tourism Risk Fund, worth JD20m, to support Jordan's tourism sector;
    • A six-month, JD200m programme to be launched in December to improve employment opportunities in the private sector for 170,000 workers affected by the pandemic;
    • Expanding the beneficiaries of the National Aid Fund, covering 400,000 more people, with a budget of JD100m.
As of 14.00 GST, 15 December 2020. Click here for Covid-19 updates in Mena during November 2020.
Lebanon

Covid-19 pandemic latest:

  • Total confirmed cases: 147,613
  • Recoveries: 103,057
  • Deaths: 1,210

Actions to slow the spread of Covid-19:

  • 7 December: Lebanon has reserved 2 million Covid-19 vaccines from Pfizer to vaccinate about 30 per cent of the population free of charge, caretaker Public Health Minister, Hamad Hassan, told Saudi-based Independent Arabia.
  • 5 December: Director general of the state-run Rafik Hariri University Hospital, Firas Abiad, says in a tweet that the first Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine will arrive in Lebanon in February 2021,and healthcare workers and high-risk patients will be prioritised.

Measures to minimise the economic crisis: 

  • 7 December: Lebanon has signed two EUR100m agreements with Germant to support infrastructure reforms in Lebanon and help the country combat Covid-19.
  • 18 November: Caretaker Public Health Minister, Hamad Hassan, signs agreement with the Syndicate of Private Hospitals, represented by its president Sleiman Haroun, to raise tariffs agreed upon in October for personal protective equipment (PPE) and ventilators for the treatment of Covid-19 patients, provided private hospitals receive and treat all individuals infected with the new coronavirus. Hassan said the agreement marked the ministry's affirmation of demands made by private hospitals, adding: "There is no excuse anymore for these hospitals' reluctance to receive [Covid-19] patients."
    Separately, a sit-in is said to have been organised by protestors outside the Interior Ministry in Beirut to protest deteriorating economic conditions amid the total lockdown in place until the end of November. President of the Beirut Traders Association, Nicolas Chammas, told Arab News: “Hunger can spur riots that lead to dangerous consequences. We are fully aware of the decisions taken to protect the public’s health, but there is also hunger [to consider]. Some of those affected [by the closures] are calling for civil disobedience or the violation of the closure decision.” 
  • 16 November: Hassan says the Health Ministry, during a meeting with the World Bank, discussed the latter's loan and ways of streamlining "bureaucratic procedures that prevent the purchase of equipment for government hospitals". Hassan also met with the head of the Hospitals Syndicate in Lebanon, and assured them of the ministry's readiness to transfer payments of public and private hospitals, worth about £Leb235bn, to the Finance Ministry. He added: "We have also completed the procedures for the payment of reconciliation contracts, which amounted to £Leb263bn."
    A shipment of 5,500 Remdesivir tablets has arrived in Lebanon, at an official price of £Leb760,000. Half of these will be distributed to hospitals, with the rest to be kept with agents for direct sales, "so as to avoid the drug being sold in the black market, as has happened before". 
As of 14.00 GST, 15 December 2020. Click here for Covid-19 updates in Mena during November 2020.
Morocco

Covid-19 pandemic latest:

  • Total confirmed cases: 400,826
  • Recoveries: 359,065
  • Deaths: 6,659

Actions to slow the spread of Covid-19:

  • 14 December: Directorate of Health has mobilised 435 vaccination stations, 790 mobile vaccination units and 459 teams as part of the planned inoculation drive in the Marrakech-Safi region. 
  • 9 December: "The resumption of cultural activities is dependent on the evolution of the epidemiological situation linked to the Covid-19 pandemic," said Culture, Youth & Sports Minister, Othman el-Ferdaous. He also noted that the repercussions of the health crisis on the tourism sector have impacted the cultural field, as the turnover of the sector has fallen by more than 80 per cent. 
  • 8 December: Morocco's King Mohammed VI has ordered that all Moroccans should receive a coronavirus vaccine for free. Morocco plans to roll out Sinopharm's vaccine in the coming weeks, as soon as its phase three trials are over.
  • 4 December: Morocco’s Health Minister, Khalid Ait Taleb, announces that the Sinopharm vaccine will be used in Morocco "very soon". Morocco’s health authorities are currently distributing doses of the vaccine at the regional level. Regional health directorates will soon begin local distribution of the vaccine.

Measures to minimise the economic crisis: 

  • 4 December: Chinese Vice Minister of Culture & Tourism, Zhang Xu, called for a new plan to promote tourism exchanges between Morocco and China after the Covid-19 pandemic, at a recent Chinese-Moroccan virtual forum. 
  • 17 November: Health Minister, Khalid Ait Taleb, says the framework agreement signed to participate in the vaccine trials paves the way for the transfer of expertise to Morocco, adding the vaccine will be produced in Morocco in the near future.
  • 11 November: Director of the biotechnology laboratory at the Faculty of Medicine & Pharmacy in Rabat, Azeddine Ibrahimi, says Morocco will receive about 10 million doses of a Covid-19 vaccine. Frontline workers will be prioritised to receive the vaccine, which while be administered in two doses.
As of 14.00 GST, 15 December 2020. Click here for Covid-19 updates in Mena during November 2020.
Libya

Covid-19 pandemic latest:

  • Total confirmed cases: 92,017 
  • Recoveries: 62,144
  • Deaths: 1,319

Actions to slow the spread of Covid-19: 

  • 14 October: General manager of Benina airport in Benghazi, Abdalla al-Shafee, denies reports that the facility will commence flights to Tripoli on 16 October. He reportedly added that 17 conditions need to be resolved before the airport can reopen, including the appointment of a specialised disinfection company; repairs to security machines; overdue staff payments; and the need for buses, forklifts and fuel. Airlines are also unwilling to fly at half-capacity, as required by the Libyan Anti-Coronavirus Committee, Libya Herald reported.
  • 7 September: Head of the National Centre for Disease Control, Bader al-Din al-Najjar, says health centres are under extreme pressure in Tripoli, calling for citizens to comply with precautionary measures and help curb the virus. 

Measures to minimise the economic crisis: 

  • 16 November: Libyan Audit Bureau approves a contract by the Libyan Health Ministry to purchase Covid-19 vaccines worth $9.1m, state news agency Lana reports. Separately, Tripoli-Tunis flights resume after almost eight months of pandemic-induced closures. Libyan Airlines will operate three flights a week to Tunis Carthage airport. Land borders with Tunisia also reopened on 14 November. Tunisians residing near both countries' shared land border were expected to halt demonstrations and blockades against the restrictions amid passenger and cargo revenue losses. 
  • 23 October: State-held National Oil Corporation (NOC) announces lifting of force majeure at Sidra and Ras Lanuf ports, adding instructions have been given to initiate production arrangements.
  • 11 October: NOC lifts force majeure on the Sharara oilfield, which can pump as much as 300,000 barrels a day.
As of 14.00 GST, 15 December 2020. Click here for Covid-19 updates in Mena during November 2020.
Tunisia

Covid-19 pandemic latest:

  • Total confirmed cases: 111,361
  • Recoveries: 84,741
  • Deaths: 3,894

Actions to slow the spread of Covid-19:

  • 6 December: Nationwide curfew in Tunisia has been extended to 30 December. A night curfew will be applied from 8pm to 5am on 7-30 December, according to a statement released by the Tunisian Health Ministry. The measures also include the continuation of the ban on fairs and meetings and the closure of cafes at 7pm. Authorities have also decided to restrict attendance at private parties and funerals to 30 people. The committee also announces the modification of the measures taken with regard to travel restrictions. Travellers in Tunisia for less than five days should present a negative PCR test conducted within 72 hours before departure.
  • 5 December: The director of the Pasteur Institute of Tunis and member of the Scientific Committee on the Fight against the Coronavirus, Hachemi Louzir, announces that 6 million doses of a Covid-19 vaccine will be purchased from an international laboratory by the end of the second quarter of 2021, and that it is 90 per cent effective. The name of the laboratory will be revealed once the agreement is officially signed and the delivery date is set. Tunisia is expected to take delivery of the doses in the period between April and June 2021.
  • 4 December: Health Minister, Faouzi Mehdi, says that Tunisia will acquire 6 million doses of a Covid-19 vaccine, to vaccinate 3 million Tunisians or roughly 25 per cent of the population. The minister says that Tunisia is aiming to vaccinate 50 per cent of the population, deeming the vaccine "necessary to achieve a rate of herd immunity exceeding 60 per cent, which could stop the spread of the virus". 

Measures to minimise the economic crisis: 

  • 14 December: World Bank's resident representative in Tunisia, Tony Verheijen, says the country will receive further support from the organisation to address the impact of Covid-19, but called on Tunis to expedite reforms agreed in 2018, including service digitisation, the reinforcement of public-private partnerships and the overhaul of public sector institutions. 
  • 23 November: Financial subsidies for the agriculture sector will increase by 17 per cent in 2021 compared to this year, says Agriculture, Water Resources & Fisheries Minister, Akissa Bahri. Subsidies for the sector will total TD324m in 2021, Bahri says, adding small farmers have been heavily impacted by Covid-19 in the country. 
  • 21 November: Health Ministry takes delivery of protective equipment donated by the Tunisian Red Crescent with support from the International Federation of Red Cross & Red Crescent Societies. The medical aid is worth more than TD500,000 and consists of 6,000 single-use protective suits, 7,000 plastic coronavirus suits, 3,000 sterilised gloves, 150,000 cleaning gloves, 13,000 head-coverings, 13,000 face masks for healthcare personnel and 600 litres of disinfectant solutions.
As of 14.00 GST, 15 December 2020. Click here for Covid-19 updates in Mena during November 2020.
Algeria

Covid-19 pandemic latest:

  • Total confirmed cases: 92,597
  • Recoveries: 60,888
  • Deaths: 2,609

Actions to slow the spread of Covid-19:

  • 8 December: Russian state-owned news agency Sputnik reports Russian ambassador to Algeria, Igor Belyaev, saying that Russia is "ready to cooperate with Algeria to design a vaccine on the local level". The ambassador added that the Russian Direct Investment Fund, which deals with the distribution of the vaccine outside the country, is proposing "multiple options of engagement, including direct acquisition, transfer of technology, joint production and participation in the third phase of tests – we have offered all that to the Algerian side."
  • 5 December: Government announces financial aid for citizens to combat costs incurred for computed tomography (CT) scans, PCR and other antigen tests necessary for Covid-19.

Measures to minimise the economic crisis: 

  • 14 December: Health, Population & Hospital Reform Minister, Abderrahmane Benbouzid, says Algeria is likely to provide free vaccination against Covid-19. 
  • 12 December: Benbouzid says a national strategy is being prepared for the vaccination of individuals in Algeria. Two commissions have been set up, the first of which will be chaired by the interior minister, to manage the logistics of the vaccine. The second, chaired by the health minister, will monitor the vaccination operation through health establishments. The vaccine is not obligatory, but it will be accessible to any Algerian who wishes to be vaccinated.
  • 21 November: Prime Minister Abdelaziz Djerad says the closure of schools is currently ruled out, announcing that contracts are under way with foreign laboratories for the purchase of a Covid-19 vaccine. He added: "In the event that positive cases are recorded in schools, each case will be treated separately. However, the closure of schools is not currently on the agenda."
  • 18 November: The healthcare system's capacity to contend with Covid-19 will be increased by 65 per cent, says assistant manager in charge of health services at the Health Ministry, Lamia Yacef. The current capacity of hospitals receiving patients with Covid-19 nationwide is 49.49 per cent for admissions and 38.66 per cent for ICUs.
As of 14.00 GST, 15 December 2020. Click here for Covid-19 updates in Mena during November 2020.
Yemen

Covid-19 pandemic latest:

  • Total confirmed cases: 2,084
  • Recoveries: 1,384
  • Deaths: 606

Actions to slow the spread of Covid-19:

  • 4 May: Public areas including government buildings, markets and mosques to be sprayed with disinfectant as local authorities move to curb Covid-19.
  • 11 April: Authorities in the southeast Yemen province of Hadramout move to curb Covid-19 in the port city of Al-Sheher by imposing further measures, where the country’s first case was announced on 10 April. A curfew from 6pm-6am has been imposed in all cities of the province. Hadramout governor, Faraj Salmen al-Bahsani, has urged residents to comply with the measures and stay indoors as much as possible.

Measures to minimise the economic crisis: 

  • 11 November: Kuwait Relief Society donates 15 intensive care units (ICUs) to Yemen. The units will be distributed to eight quarantine centres in six governorates, and include supplies of oxygen, monitoring devices, beds, protection materials and respirators.
  • 7 October: Unicef says primary schools have reopened following months of closures. Preventive sanitary measures have been implemented and school schedules have been rearranged to avoid overcrowding.
  • 2 June: International donors pledge $1.35bn in aid for Yemen. Saudi Arabia's contribution totals $500m, with the UK offering $200m and Germany contributing $140m.
  • 18 May: Yemen’s Health Minister Nasser Ba’aom and Local Administration Minister Abdul Raqib Fatah appeal for international aid. “We need PPE supplies, ventilators, finance for the medical workers who work in the Covid-19 centres,” Dr Ba’aom said, according to UAE newspaper the National. “We also need medical equipment such as a complete biological units, testing kits, field hospitals and beds for the ICUs. Additionally, we still need food aid, as well as water, sanitation and hygiene.”
As of 14.00 GST, 15 December 2020. Click here for Covid-19 updates in Mena during November 2020.
Syria

Covid-19 pandemic latest:

  • Total confirmed cases: 9,302
  • Recoveries: 4,432
  • Deaths: 530

Actions to slow the spread of Covid-19:

  • 14 December: Government meeting chaired by Prime Minister Hussain Arnous decides to mandate the use of masks on all public transport and decides to close tourist facilities and restaurants that violate precautionary measures against the pandemic. Closures will first be rolled out for 15 days and repeat offenders could be closed for a month. The government team also instructed governors to not provide licences for gatherings that could contribute to the spread of the virus and assigned the ministries of health, higher education and scientific research to intensify efforts to increase the readiness of public hospitals.
  • 21 October: Health Ministry launches campaign to distribute protective clothing and run more frequent Covid-19 testing for healthcare workers as part of measures to curb the spread of the virus. Influenza test kits will also be provided and healthcare workers in direct contact with Covid-19 patients will be tested for antibodies.
  • 16 August: Interior Ministry set to issue new regulations for travellers to and from Lebanon. Those entering Syria from Lebanon must present Covid-19 negative test results taken 96 hours prior to their arrival. The decision applies to truck drivers, diplomatic passport holders and aid workers, among other groups. Lebanon-bound passengers from Syria must present test results taken 24 hours prior to their flight. 

Financial measures to minimise the economic crisis:

  • 24 October: Syria receives medical assistance from the WHO. The shipment, which arrived at Damascus International airport, includes PPE for health workers, medicines and medical supplies.
  • 21 October: President Bashar al-Assad issues decree approving an exemption on income tax amid tightening economic conditions. The decree covers all public and private sector workers. It exempts those earning £Syr50,000 ($40) or less a month from paying income tax and reduces the level of taxes paid in the lowest income bracket. Exemptions were previously offered for those earning less than £Syr15,000, according to a decree in 2015. Finance Minister Kinan Yaghi said the authority had also secured resources to disburse grants to citizens, and has called on banks not to charge fees until these grants have been issued. 
As of 14.00 GST, 15 December 2020. Click here for Covid-19 updates in Mena during November 2020.

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