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Jerusalem Arab Neighborhoods Hit Hard by Coronavirus
(Times of Israel) Aaron Boxerman - The number of active coronavirus cases in Jerusalem's Arab neighborhoods surpassed Jewish Jerusalem neighborhoods two weeks ago. In response to the second wave, the municipality reopened the IDF Home Front Command center to work with local coronavirus committees. The Jerusalem municipality has also opened a coronavirus hotel in eastern Jerusalem specifically to serve Palestinians, as well as a coronavirus testing center in the neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah. Ben Avrahami, a fluent Arabic speaker and former advisor to the mayor, suggested that many Jerusalem residents who had traveled to the West Bank for large weddings may have brought the coronavirus back with them. With some exceptions, the coronavirus situation is better in the southern Jerusalem Arab neighborhoods than in the northern ones, such as Beit Hanina, Kafr Aqab, and Shuafat. Kafr Aqab coronavirus committee director Samih Abu Rumeila said the second wave has seen what he called "widespread denial of the existence of the virus." He received constant reports of those testing positive or those ordered into quarantine flouting health restrictions. Many who suspected they had been exposed were not even bothering to get tested, he said.