Palestinian Health Ministry declared a state of emergency immediately after reports of discovery of coronavirus cases in the city even though confirmation came hours later after samples from the seven were sent to Israeli centers for further confirmation.

"After examining 20 Palestinians, who worked at a hotel in the southern West Bank city, where a group of Greek tourists that some of them were tested positive after returning home had stayed between February 23 and 27, seven people have tested positive with the coronavirus disease," the minister said at a press conference in Bethlehem

The seven, she said, all Palestinians were put under a quarantine set up in Jericho especially for corona cases where they will undergo treatment.

All hotel reservations for tourists were also cancelled and the annual Bethlehem marathon scheduled for later this month was also cancelled. Public transportation were also fumigated.

The health minister added that all measures would be taken to prevent the spread of the disease.

ILKHA