The Palestinian Health Ministry announced Sunday the first two confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the Gaza Strip.

The two positive cases are Palestinians who traveled from Pakistan and entered Gaza through Egypt, Reuters reported, citing Palestinian health officials.

The patients reportedly tested positive for the virus late Saturday and have been quarantined in Rafah, a town near the border with Egypt, since they arrived Thursday.

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Schools, public markets and event halls have been shut in the densely-populated Gaza for the past two weeks in an effort to mitigate the spread of the virus, according to Reuters.

Gaza is cut off from much of the world after a 2007 takeover by the militant group Hamas.

Hamas said last week it would allow only patients requiring urgent medical treatment outside Gaza to cross into Egypt or Israel, Reuters reports.

The Palestinian health ministry reportedly confirmed 53 COVID-19 cases in the occupied West Bank, according to Reuters.