Lebanon’s Total Coronavirus Cases Near 50,000, Death At 504

By Staff, Agencies

Lebanon confirmed 1,367 new coronavirus cases Thursday, as the total number of cases registered in the country nears 50,000.

Only five cases were detected among travelers arriving from abroad.

The total number of registered cases in the country reached 49,744 Thursday as 14,262 PCR tests were carried out on the local population, bringing the positivity rate to 9.9%.

Six deaths were recorded due to coronavirus complications, bringing the death toll to 504 since the virus was first detected on February 21.

Since Sunday, 111 villages and towns across Lebanon have been under lockdown as more than eight positive COVID-19 cases had been registered per 100,000 people over the preceding 14 days.

Health Minister Hamad Hassan said Wednesday that the number of beds to treat coronavirus patients would increase within the next week in seven governmental hospitals in Beirut, Mount Lebanon and the north, where the number of infections is increasing dramatically.

After that, more beds will be made available for coronavirus treatment in the south and Western Bekaa over three weeks. During this time, the Health Ministry will be distributing ventilators that have been donated to various hospitals.

The head of Parliament’s Health Committee MP Assem Araji Tuesday warned that public disregard for virus containment measures was leading the crisis-hit country to a “dangerous place.”