Lebanon Records 210 COVID Cases as Delta Variant Detected

By Staff, Agencies

Lebanon registered 210 new coronavirus cases and two deaths in the last 24 hours, while the first cases of the COVID-19 Delta variant were identified among incoming travelers, the Health Ministry reported Friday.

The new cases were detected among 18,850 tests, resulting in an average two-week positivity rate of 1.5 percent. Out of Friday's cases, 31 were from incoming passengers with three identified as the Delta variant, the ministry's report confirmed. Friday's infections mark the first time daily cases have jumped to above 200 in a number of weeks.

The total number of cases stands at 545,226 infections with 7,856 deaths in Lebanon since the virus was first detected in the country in February 2020.

The Health Ministry report also detailed that 112 individuals were in hospital with the virus, with 57 in intensive care and 15 patients on ventilators.

Over the last 24 hours, 14,056 first-stage coronavirus vaccines were administered, bringing the total to 977,853 individuals, or 20.5 percent, who have received the jab since the rollout began five months ago. A further 9,484 second doses were administered, resulting in a total of 493,670 people or 10.4 percent of the eligible population who are now fully vaccinated.

The state-run National News Agency earlier Friday quoted Caretaker Health Minister Hamad Hasan as saying three cases of the Delta variant have been confirmed, while he urged residents to vaccinate "because it is the only protection, in addition to preventive measures."

The discovery of the mutation in Lebanon will bring alarm to the health sector, which is struggling under the weight of Lebanon’s financial crisis and has left hospitals bereft of some medicines and equipment.

Doctors have predicted the arrival in Lebanon of the variant for weeks, following the increase in travelers over the summer from European countries where health officials there believe the variant will constitute 90 percent of the bloc’s cases by late August.

Firass Abiad, head of Rafik Hariri University Hospital, one of the country's main coronavirus hospitals, warned Friday that the COVID-19 situation in Lebanon was concerning.

"The official numbers indicate hospitalizations are starting to increase. Yesterday, the test positivity rate at RHUH was 4 percent, the highest it has been in several weeks," Abiad wrote on Twitter.

Furthermore, virus safety measures at Lebanon’s borders have been poorly policed in recent months which led President Michel Aoun to enforce a tightening of regulations and tracking arrivals.

The Delta variant, first identified in India, is believed to be most contagious variant yet, and countries with high vaccination levels have recorded a surge in cases of the virus.

Studies released in Britain last month showed the Delta variant doubled the risk of hospitalization, but that two doses of coronavirus vaccine provided strong protection.