Lebanon Registers Surge in Coronavirus Cases Ahead Of Lockdown

By Staff, Agencies

Lebanon recorded 1,922 new coronavirus cases and 14 deaths Wednesday, as a security meeting was held to discuss the implementation of the full lockdown set to begin Saturday.

Only seven cases from the new total were registered from incoming travelers.

Caretaker Prime Minister Hassan Diab chaired a security meeting at the Grand Serail Wednesday, during which he examined the steps to be applied during the full lockdown. The attendants also discussed possible consequences for people who fail to abide by lockdown measures.

The Lebanese authorities announced Tuesday that the country would undergo a full lockdown between November 14 and November 30 in a bid to contain the dangerous spread of the virus and to help relieve the overwhelmed health sector.

According to the Health Ministry, a total of 98,829 people have been infected with the disease since it was first detected in late February. A total of 763 people have so far died from virus-related complications.

A total of 13,603 PCR tests have been administered in the last 24 hours. The average positivity rate of the tests in the last two weeks stood at 14.5 percent, according to the Health Ministry’s report.

There are currently 300 people in a critical condition.

Lebanon received two field hospitals from Qatar Wednesday, which will aid in treating coronavirus patients, according to the state-run National News Agency.

A total of 54,869 people have now recovered from the disease.