Lebanon COVID-19 Cases Surge to Record 1,809 Infections, 11 Deaths

By Staff, Agencies

Lebanon’s coronavirus cases surged Tuesday, as a record 1,809 infections and 11 deaths were registered. The total number of registered cases rose to 73,995.

There have been a total of 590 deaths due to coronavirus complications since the illness was first detected on Feb. 21.

Despite the continued increase, head of Rafik Hariri Hospital Dr. Firass Abiad said in a tweet that coronavirus numbers in Lebanon were plateauing, which indicates that the spread of the virus is slowing down.

“COVID-19 numbers in Lebanon are plateauing, suggesting the viral spread is slowing,” Abiad said.

Abiad added that even though some propose that insufficient testing is concealing the rise in cases, recent numbers indicate otherwise.

“Though some suggest insufficient testing is masking the rise in cases, the plateauing of the test positivity rate, ICU admissions, and deaths, does suggest the slowing of the spread is real,” Abiad explained.

Of the infections detected, 46 were from incoming travelers.

Some 14,320 PCR tests were administered in the past 24 hours. The positivity rate of the tests stands at 11.5 percent.

There are 239 patients in critical condition.

Caretaker Health Minister Hamad Hassan announced Monday that this week Lebanon would receive 150,000 Vacci-Grippe and 300,000 Tetravac coronavirus vaccines.

Despite the ever-rising number of coronavirus cases, the Interior Ministry ordered 69 villages and towns to go under lockdown from Monday 6 a.m. until Nov. 2. Last week, 79 were under these enhanced measures.