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A special news program to try to find out and study how Arab countries are dealing with the Corona outbreak, the exceptional measures taken by these governments and how the Arab sail interacts with them, and are there any cultural and social peculiarities that prevent strict enforcement of quarantine and isolation requirements?
We will address these and other questions with the international network of Monte Carlo correspondents spread across the Arab world: Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Egypt, Algeria, Palestine and Qatar.
Will Palestine enter a state of curfew?
The start comes from the Palestinian Territories with our correspondent Shorouk Asaad, who notes that the Palestinian Authority was one of the first countries to impose a state of emergency. This has helped prevent the spread of this virus among Palestinian citizens. Since March 5, schools, universities, cafes, churches, mosques and gymnasiums have been closed. The authority called on the population not to move except in case of necessity, while a permanent curfew was declared in many governorates, including Bethlehem, Beit Jala and Beit Sahour. As for the health situation in the Palestinian territories, Shurooq points out that the situation in hospitals is so difficult that the medical profession may not be able to take care of an injured person. This is also the case in the Gaza Strip, which suffers from a shortage of drugs and the unavailability of testing devices to determine whether a person is infected or not. This can lead to a curfew at the end of March.
“Lebanon is in general quarantine”
In Lebanon, our correspondent, Nicolas Nassif, confirms that the Lebanese government has announced a state of general mobilization from March 15 to 29, a renewable deadline. And the Beirut government hospital – the laboratory testing center – remains the main treatment center for this epidemic, given the failure of private hospitals to always respond under the pretext of a lack of equipment. The Lebanese government has called on citizens to stay at home and not move except when necessary, and departments, departments, banks, restaurants and others have been closed. The country’s official authorities are working to monitor the implementation of these procedures. As for the political debate that tried to politicize this epidemic, Nicolas Nassif considers that it was a natural issue at the start, but it has largely fallen back, and today everyone welcomes the government measures that contribute to limit the development and spread of the epidemic, the most important of which is to cut all the passages linking Lebanon to the outside, and to close all flights. From and to Beirut airport, as well as the border with Syria. As a result, Lebanon went into quarantine in order to control the spread of the epidemic in its country and prevent its entry from abroad.
“Egyptians doubt the veracity of the figures announced for those infected with the virus”
As for the situation in Egypt, our correspondent Mostagab Abdullah indicates that the Egyptian authorities began to take measures when cases of the virus began to appear, especially since the figures are still few compared to what the world is a witness. According to statistics, 210 cases and 6 deaths, and the government is trying to limit its height, and the decision to suspend international air traffic at all airports, to suspend schools and universities, to close restaurants and shopping malls at night until the end of March, and other measures to reduce the mixing between citizens. He adds that the Egyptian government has allocated 100 billion Egyptian pounds in funding to deal with the possible repercussions of the spread of the virus. He says that until today, Egypt does not live in medical quarantine, as is the case in many countries, knowing that there are fears that failure to follow procedures by some could result in a increase in these figures in view of the low medical capacity, especially since some doubt that the figures announced do not correspond Indeed. As for the visit of the Egyptian Minister of Health to Beijing, it was an initiative to exchange experiences with Beijing, as it was at the center of the disease and the application of part of the Chinese experience in Egypt.
“Qatar: Corona is an opportunity for reunification between the Gulf States”
For its part, the State of Qatar has taken the necessary measures to limit the spread of the epidemic, in particular by banning clowns, closing schools and universities, and all places that testify to the mixing of groups of people, according to what our correspondent Hassan Al-Rashidi tells us. The Council of Ministers also took the decision to reduce the number of employees in all public establishments to 20%, and therefore 80% of employees work from home, with the exception of the military, security and health sectors. . Al-Rashidi believes that this crisis is an opportunity for the Gulf countries to overcome their differences and return to their humanity. Although the situation is still as it is, Qatar has taken the initiative to provide some countries, including Iran, with medical aid and what they need. He says the citizens of the Gulf are united with each other, but politics divides.
Jordan: towards a decrease in the number of injured
In Jordan, a positive outlook prevails in light of this crisis after the Minister of Health expected a decrease in the number of injured soon, according to our correspondent Hamdan al-Hajj reports. Banks postponed loan repayments and cut interest, and the government paid employees a week before they were due so they could meet their obligations. Public life has almost completely come to a halt: educational, government and private institutions are closed, employees work from home, and daily newspapers have ceased to be published.
“Gatherings are prohibited in Algeria”
Moving to Algeria, Monte Carlo correspondent Faysal El-Matawi confirmed: “Public opinion has demanded from the start to close public places and schools since the start of the epidemic. There are also calls to impose a quarantine in the country. He said authorities have started quarantining suspected cases of the disease.
As to the impact of this epidemic on the ongoing movement in the country, Mattawi said, “There are calls from some sane people in the movement who call on people not to go out on popular marches anymore.” He added: “All eyes are on tomorrow, Friday, to see if some will continue to take to the streets, knowing that the authorities will be firm in dispersing the gatherings.”
“Iraq: the political class invests in the Corona crisis”
In conclusion, in Iraq, our correspondent, Basil Muhammad, considered that “there is a correlation between the emerging crisis in Corona and the popular protests taking place in the country”. He explained that “some believe that the political class continues to spread the virus to break sit-ins in the streets, and that there is in fact a declared state of emergency in the country and a curfew”.
And Mohammed expressed the dissatisfaction of the Iraqi street with the nature of the measures taken and the delay in taking them. He said: We know very well that the virus entered Iraq from Iran, and the first infection was recorded in the city of Najaf, which is a sanctuary for the Shia community and pilgrims from Iran, and the government kept the borders open with Iran.
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