One of the most isolated spots on earth faces a massive COVID wave Ameera Harouda GAZA CITY — As much of the world waits for a vaccine, many patients in Gaza are just waiting for a hospital bed. That was the case for Mai, a 27-year-old mother of two, when she began to experience symptoms last month. Initially, Mai, who asked that only her first name be used, was diagnosed with bronchitis and sent home to recover. But her symptoms grew worse, until she was struggling to breathe. “I had a severe headache, pain and dryness in my throat, and even trying to speak left me feeling exhausted,” she recalled recently.