Lebanese authorities announced a new lockdown and an overnight curfew to rein in a spike in coronavirus infections as the daily toll of coronavirus cases rose to 421 on Tuesday.
The new measures will come into effect on Friday and last just over two weeks, the interior ministry said, adding that they would not affect the clean-up and aid effort following the devastating August 4 Beirut port blast.
A curfew will be imposed from 6:00 pm (1500 GMT) to 6:00 am, a statement issued by the ministry read.
It added that the sectors that will be exempted from the lockdown are public institutions, security forces, health and medical facilities, emergency workers, foodstuff and essential factories, wholesale foodstuff markets, hotels, gas stations, banks and financial institutions.
Restaurants, cafes, sweets shops and bakeries will meanwhile be allowed to offer takeaway and delivery services between 6am and 5 pm. Grocery shops, butcheries and shops that sell fish and poultry will also be allowed to operate from 6am to 5pm.
This comes as daily record of coronavirus has been dramatically rising over the recent weeks. Today [Tuesday 18], Lebanon confirmed 421 new coronavirus cases and two deaths, bringing the total number of cases in the country to 9,758.
Of the new cases, 412 were found among the local population and nine among travelers. The new cases were detected among 9,243 PCR tests.
There have been a total of 107 deaths due to coronavirus complications.
“We are all facing a real challenge and the numbers that were recorded in the last period are shocking,” Health Minister Hamad Hassan said, raising high alert over surge in Covid-19 record. “The matter requires decisive measures.” Intensive care beds at state and private hospitals were now full, he added.
Hassan said authorities would not close the country’s airport so far, with the rise stemming mostly from within the country. “The real danger is the spread within society,” he said. “Everyone must be on high alert and take the strictest prevention measures.”
