Lebanon Records 45 More COVID-19 Deaths, 3,939 New Cases

By Staff, Agencies

Lebanon registered Tuesday 45 more coronavirus-related deaths and 3,939 new cases over the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of cases to over 400,000 cases in the nation of 6 million.

The Health Ministry said the cases were detected among 21,866 tests, with only one found among travelers arriving at Beirut International Airport. The positivity rate throughout the last two weeks stood at 18 percent.

The total number of cases since coronavirus was first detected in Lebanon on Feb. 21, 2020, now stands at 401,810, according to figures released by the Health Ministry. The total number of fatalities has risen to 5,134.

The statistics provided by the Health Ministry also show that 2,306 patients are currently hospitalized for COVID-19 and related complications, with 932 in the ICU and 297 requiring ventilators.

The ministry also reported that 4,496 first-stage jabs and 2,520 second-round jabs were administered in the last 24 hours, resulting in 84,108 now being the total number of people vaccinated since the start of the inoculation campaign on Feb. 14.

Top coronavirus expert and director of Rafik Hariri University Hospital Dr. Firass Abiad said Tuesday that hospitals in Lebanon are once again enduring oxygen shortage, affirming that the dangerously low levels could result in a higher number of deaths among COVID-19 patients who require the air tanks for facilitated breathing.