Lebanon Coronavirus Cases Surge as Country Braces for Lockdown

By Staff, Agencies

Lebanon registered 1,904 new coronavirus cases and 21 deaths Friday, on the eve of a two-week lockdown to stem an alarming spread of the illness which has an infected a total of 102,607 people in the country.

Of the new cases, five were found among travelers from abroad. There has now been a total of 796 deaths due to virus complications since it was first detected on February 21.

A total of 13,660 PCR tests have been administered in the last 24 hours. The average positivity rate of the tests in the last two weeks stood at 14.6 percent, according to the Health Ministry’s report.

There are currently 307 people in a critical condition.

Daily cases across the country have consistently exceeded the 1,000 mark over the last few weeks.

The upcoming lockdown, which has reinstated a strict nightly curfew from 5 pm to 5 am, is hoped to slow the spread of the virus and relieve weary hospitals and medical staff who are under immense pressure as ICUs reach capacity.

Only restaurant deliveries and supermarkets will be permitted to operate before curfew hours.