No Script

Please Wait...

Al-Ahed Telegram

COVID-19 Surge in Lebanon Hits New Peak: 456 New Infections, Total Deaths At 105

COVID-19 Surge in Lebanon Hits New Peak: 456 New Infections, Total Deaths At 105
folder_openLebanon access_time3 years ago
starAdd to favorites

By Staff, Agencies

Lebanon Monday confirmed a record 456 new coronavirus cases and two further deaths, as caretaker Health Minister Hamad Hassan called for a new nationwide lockdown to stem the virus’ transmission.

The vast majority of the 456 new cases were captured among the local population, with just 20 coming from people traveling into the country within the last 24 hours.

The latest figures bring the cumulative count of coronavirus infections in Lebanon to 9,337 since Feb. 21. A total of 105 people died from the highly infectious disease.

Infections have spiked since the reopening of Lebanon’s only international airport at 10 percent capacity at the start of July. Noncompliance with virus containment measures at the community level has also contributed to the spike.

The positivity rate in June among tests conducted on the local population was 0.82 percent. In July, it jumped to 2.14 percent, but two weeks into August it now stands at 4.85 percent. The positivity rate among inbound travelers has stayed relatively stable since the airport reopened.

Hassan Monday called for a two-week lockdown, noting the spike in local infections.

He explained in a radio interview with Voice of Lebanon that the upcoming lockdown would be carried out in three parts: the airport, the city of Beirut, and other areas.

“The increase in numbers was justified when we opened up the country in the beginning of July,” Hassan said, adding that the August 4 blast at Beirut Port that damaged half of the capital greatly affected the numbers that are beginning to appear now.

Comments