The authorities in the Gaza Strip announced today, Monday, the opening of the Rafah border crossing today, exceptionally, for a period of four days, in coordination with the Egyptian authorities, so that hundreds of Palestinians stranded in Egypt can return to Gaza, and that the Ministry of Health will then transfer them to quarantine centers for fear of an outbreak of the Corona virus.
A spokesman for the Interior Ministry, which is run by Hamas movement, Iyad Al-Bazm, told AFP that the ministry "distributed the entry of the stranded people at the crossing from Monday to Thursday."
He added, "It determined the number of entrants per day based on special classifications, and gave priority right to the entry of patients and the elderly."
"All returnees through the crossing will be subject to mandatory quarantine for a period of 21 days, which can be increased according to the estimates of the Ministry of Health, according to measures to prevent and fully protect from the outbreak of the Corona virus," Al-Bazm said.
Dozens of police officers, accompanied by a number of doctors and nurses, wore medical clothing and protective masks, inside the arrival hall at the Rafah crossing and transported the returnees to the quarantine centers.
"We will receive the youth returning from Egypt in the quarantine centers in schools, the elderly and families in the hotels. As for the patients, they will be transferred to the Turkish hospital," said doctor Mohamed Abu Salamieh, head of the Gaza emergency committee.
Abu Salamieh pointed out that the number of people infected with Coronavirus in the sector is "13 cases", explaining that "400 citizens who recently returned to Gaza are still under quarantine. We have a French employee working for MSF who has been quarantined in a Gaza center."
A month ago, Hamas imposed precautionary measures, including closing popular markets, restaurants, cafes, mosques, schools and universities, and preventing gatherings.