COVID-19—Reality and Challenge’s in The Northern Governorates of Palestine

Abstract

This study aims to identify the reality of the outbreak of the Corona epidemic in Palestine and the challenges and difficulties to confront it and limit its spread. The study followed the descriptive analytical approach due to its relevance to the nature of this study, through qualitative and quantitative tools, namely, the interview and the questionnaire. Interviews were conducted with the heads of the emergency committee, which consisted of governors, mayors and chambers of commerce, health directors, and heads of financial committees in the governorates. The questionnaire dealt with the point of view of Palestinian citizens in the northern governorates. And the study sample amounted to (1064). The results of the interviews reflected the commitment and response of citizens in the first months of the epidemic, as well as a full awareness and response to dealing with safety and prevention measures, after which the interest decreased and the response became like ebb and flow, and therefore there has become a complacency in behavior, especially in wearing masks and physical distancing, and the large number of gatherings, Which is considered a negative indicator in dealing with the emerging corona virus. From the results of the questionnaire, it was found that the impact of the Corona epidemic on citizens in the northern governorates in terms of health was a high percentage of 74%, and in terms of social terms, the percentage was high, amounting to 78%. On the economic side, it was average, with a percentage of 69%. The education rate is also high, at 78%. The study recommended to Establishing an economic committee in each governorate and evaluating the previous stage through mechanisms and field studies, to monitor the current economic situation on the one hand, and what will happen to matter in the future.