Lebanon Confirms Record 182 Virus Cases As Country Prepares for 2nd Lockdown

By Staff, Agencies

Lebanon recorded the highest daily increase of coronavirus cases Wednesday, registering 182 new cases and one new death a day before the country goes into its second lockdown.

Of the new cases, 168 were detected among the local population and 14 among travelers. There have now been 55 deaths due to coronavirus complications.

Cases were detected among 9,543 PCR tests administered in the last 24 hours to locals and travelers.

Lebanon will go under lockdown Thursday to curb the spread of coronavirus, as cases surge and community transmissions rise.

The lockdown will last from Thursday morning until Monday night, according to the Interior Ministry. Essential establishments such as pharmacies and supermarkets will remain open, so will military and security institutions in addition to the health sector. All other private and financial institutions are to close down.

Public sector institutions and municipalities are to open during certain hours.

Delivery services will only be allowed to operate between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m.

There is no curfew and no car license plate rules in place during this lockdown, which is the second time Lebanon closes down to prevent the spread of the virus, the first being in mid-March till beginning of May.

The country will partially re-open Tuesday and Wednesday, with restaurants and public transportation vehicles allowed to take in customers at 50 percent capacity.

The lockdown will go into force again on Aug. 6-10, the Interior Ministry said.

Daily cases have seen a sharp increase in July, with the high number of cases a result of the community spread of the disease rather than just large clusters in certain areas that were easy to isolate and control.