RAMALLAH, March 29 (Xinhua) -- Palestine on Sunday announced the application of austere emergency budget and financial restraint on government expenses in light of shrinking revenues amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Palestinian Authority's revenues are expected to drop significantly, but the government will remain committed to the payment of the public servant's salaries, which is one of the major governmental expenditures, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Ishtayeh said during a press conference in the West Bank city of Ramallah.

Ishtayeh said that Palestine's financial needs to face this pandemic are estimated at 120 million U.S. dollars, which would cause the budget deficit to double, and lead to significant losses to the national economy.

"We started studying the economic effects of this crisis with the World Bank and a team of related institutions. Also, we began preparing for the day after this crisis to revive the economy," the prime minister noted.

Palestine has declared a state of emergency on March 5, after cases of coronavirus were found in West Bank city of Bethlehem.

On Sunday, the Palestinian government said that the total number of coronavirus patients in the Palestinian territories has reached 108. Enditem

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