RAMALLAH, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- Palestine on Sunday started taking samples in the West Bank to test for the new strain of the novel coronavirus, said a senior Palestinian official.

Director General of Supportive Medical Services at the Palestinian Health Ministry told reports during a press conference held in Ramallah that his ministry has not recorded any cases infected with the new strain.

"However, we may record cases infected with the new strain because it has already arrived in Israel and the Palestinians are in contact with Israelis," the official said.

Meanwhile, the Palestinian health ministry reported 1,155 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of cases to 159,034.

"Out of the new infections, 409 cases have been recorded in the Hamas-run coastal enclave," Palestinian Health Minister Mai al-Kaila said in a press statement.

Besides, the ministry reported new 31 fatalities from the virus, raising the total number of deaths to 1,609, the minister noted. Enditem

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