Several health officials warned of the spread of the coronavirus in Gaza after their only COVID-19 testing center was destroyed due to strikes by the Israeli Occupation Monday.

The Palestinian Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip announced Wednesday, that it has stopped conducting PCR tests for the third consecutive day due to the destruction of the center and the general escalation of Israeli Occupation aggression which made it difficult for citizens to get tested.

The ministry added that the Israeli Occupation strikes affected the ministry's building and the Rimal Clinic.

"Targeting health institutions and medical staff is a heinous crime aimed at preventing the ministry from continuing its humanitarian work in saving the lives of citizens," said the undersecretary of the ministry in Gaza, Yousef Abu al-Rish.

They pointed out that "the suspension of the central lab affects the efforts of the Ministry of Health to confront the coronavirus pandemic and the spread of the virus in society."

Jets bombed a residential block in central Gaza Monday, causing damage to dozens of adjacent buildings, including Gaza's main COVID-19 laboratory, an orphanage, a high school and ministry offices.